For athletes, finding the perfect fitting pair of shoes can be as intense as Super Bowl 2017.
L.A.-based shoemaker Daniel Patrick set out to help those with super-size feet stay fashionable, gaining respect of some of his niche clientele—NBA players.
After orders for shoes as big as a whopping size 21 from athletes like Minnesota Timberwolves player Karl-Anthony Towns and Detroit Pistons center Boban Marjanovic, the brand realized it needed bigger machinery, reported Racked.
“First, we thought we were going to go to another factory to sew some parts of the shoe, but then they decided to just upgrade their machinery so that the shoes could fit down the track,” Patrick told Racked.
While the brand’s factory seemed skeptical at first, the team decided a bigger machine was the way to go. The factory engineered a special plate to adhere the soles to the upper. Workers then had to add extensions to the machine to get the huge shoes through the opening, as well as create special toe puffs and heel counters. The extra materials and production up the price of the shoes a bit.
“I don’t know if [the factory workers] exactly know who the players are, but they’re definitely excited to see celebrities wearing it, athletes wearing it,” said Patrick. “That helps their enthusiasm to change their machinery around.”