EDITORIAL INNOVATION
Ttweggo no-tie shoelaces – Innovative and unique, replacing the humble shoelace We are living in an age where man has walked on the moon. Technology has progressed at a phenomenal rate, making every aspect of our daily lives more comfortable. Sneaker manufacturers have huge R&D facilities where the focus is on improving their products, but the component that is the least consumer friendly is being ignored. The shoelace!
F
ides Trading found this unacceptable, and for many years have worked to find something innovative and
device to replace conventional shoelaces. Once the basis of the design had been established, work
unique that could replace the humble shoelace. During
commenced to develop the Ttweggo system, comprising
the design process of various other consumer products,
single flexible strips that connect opposing eyelets.
they designed a latching system in urethane that could tighten
Mushroom shaped studs were fitted to the holes in the
and release with a flick of the wrist. They realised that this
eyelets to which the flexible strips could be attached.
could possibly be used as a system to replace shoelaces and
After a few years of many prototypes, evaluation and
fitted these strips from eyelet to opposing eyelet, on the
rigorous testing, the design was finalised – a world-first
sneakers. The results were encouraging.
system using studs fitted to eyelets and colourful strips of urethane laces clicked onto the studs.
With this as a basis for the concept, Fides Trading worked
Conventional sneakers are turned into slip-ons. When the
on developing a system that could easily be adapted to
sneakers are washed the Ttweggo strips can be clipped off
fit into existing sneakers. It took many years of extensive
and washed separately. As a fashion item, the possibilities
development, using the latest R&D and with a team of
are endless! Colours can be mixed and matched and the
specialist designers and with much trial and error; finally a
Ttweggo laces changed without taking off your sneakers
product was made that met all the requirements. Consumer
The no-tie lacing system is a Proudly South African
friendly, easy to fit to existing sneakers, comfortable, and
product whose design took seven years to perfect.
visually appealing, and using urethane due to its excellent
Launched in October 2021, all R&D was done in South
wear, elasticity and tear resistant properties.
Africa by local industrial designers. The manufacturing, boxes for packaging and finally packing of the boxes is
A simple, usable device to replace conventional shoelaces
done by companies based in South Africa, creating more
Ttweggo Laces were created by a team of industrial
innovation.
designers with a singular passion – to create a simple, usable
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employment and taking South Africa forward in the field of Ttweggo is all set to become a global brand! ■