Fashionable Loafers for Male Students

Abstract

Male students of the Department of Integrated Rural Art and Industry, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi have preference for three kinds of footwear: loafers, boots, and dressing shoes. They rate loafers as highly preferred for three main reasons: trendiness, adaptability, and economy. This research aimed to design and produce fashionable loafers for male students. The descriptive research method was used to give details about the tools and materials used for the footwear, and the processes for making the loafers. The participatory product design method was used, where the would-be users of the footwear were involved in the design process – they were consulted for their views and comments right from the early design stages till actualisation of the product. The target population was 150 male students of the said Department; 100 were accessible. The simple random sampling method was used; data was collected through interviews and observation. The study recognised that the popularity, acceptability or attractiveness of the first pair of loafers can be seen in 3 ways: African wear or the look alike, the use of beads, and youthfulness of colour. Adaptability and economy of footwear do show up in the varied application of colour and material, for multipurpose use of the footwear. The integration of locally obtainable materials (beads, fabric and leather) and necessary design factors were determined after which manufacturing operations such as pattern cutting, closing, lasting, attaching, arrangement of beads, and finishing were gone through to realize the shoes. Two pairs of loafers were produced; one has bright and lively colours, the other, relatively darker but appealing colours.

Keywords: Male students, fashionable, loafers, adaptability, economy