meet swapz, a series of changeable straps for slippers

Swapz is a series of changeable straps for slippers

Ellie Kim designs Swapz, a series of changeable straps for slippers that features a custom ‘rail’ system. Unlike typical slippers, the project lets the wearer replace the top strap of their slippers with different colors, materials, and even graphics. The California-based industrial designer describes it as allowing the user to match the footwear with their mood, clothes, and where they’re going.

The straps are modular, using a custom rail system built into the footbed. This rail holds the strap in place and makes it easy to slide it on and off in a few seconds. The slipper base stays the same, but the top strap can be changed anytime, and the wearer can collect different straps and put on the one that fits their day. Because of this, it’s possible to customize the straps and have the wearer design their own graphics and style for their slippers.

all images courtesy of Ellie Kim

Custom rail system on the side of the footwear

The rail system for Swapz works like a track, which means there’s a smooth groove built into the side of slippers for the changeable straps. The band has a matching edge that slides into this groove, and when the wearer pushes the strap into the track and slides it, the strap clicks into place. In this case, there are no tools, no glue, and no buttons; just a simple slide-and-lock movement to let anyone do it easily.

A reason that the industrial designer Ellie Kim has created Swapz is to reduce waste. Since many users tend to throw away their footwear as soon as the top strap breaks, the designer’s response is to just keep the straps modular, especially if the slippers’ base is still intact and in a good state. With this, fewer slippers go into the trash, and there’s no need to buy a whole new pair. So far, this student project is still a concept idea.

side view of the slipper