The idea of disguising secret gadgets as everyday objects is hardly new. Yet, there’s always the challenge of balancing great design with cool features. Until recently, British luxury shoe company Oliver Sweeney and luxury site VeryFirstTo.com created this pair of James Bond-like shoes that tastefully achieves both.
Named ‘The Secret Shoe,” the bespoke deerskin footwear boasts six hidden gadgets that can help one stylish gentleman face everything from losing his key to getting mugged, carjacked or kidnapped.
With twelve bespoke items to choose from—including the world’s smallest and thinnest phone by Long-CZ; a mini pocket spy camera by Enklov; mini Swiss Army knife; a tracking device; a minute aftershave atomiser with Oliver Sweeney fragrance; and the world’s first contactless payment ring by Kerv: Every one of these discreetly hidden gadgets are covered with the inner sole. You can also request for a specially cut space to hide a spare key.
For those of you who are safety conscious, there’s little to worry about carrying a knife and electronic devices in your shoes, according to Marcel Knobil, founder of VeryFirstTo, Superbrands and Cool BrandLeaders. Just keep one thing in mind: Make sure you remove the penknife before going through airport security.
And don’t be mistaken, not all the spy-like features are hidden. The shoelaces, which are made of Kevlar, can cut wood or plastic through friction. “So should you ever find yourself zip-tied, you have a fighting chance!” said Knobil.
Beyond the cool gadgets, The Secret Shoe is simply beautiful. Featuring Oliver Sweeney’s iconic tattoo details, there’s a fire writer who can inscribe unique details on the soles whether it’s a name, blood type, address GPS coordinates, or anything else.
As for the actual shoe design, Tim Cooper, Cobbler In Chief at Oliver Sweeney noted,
It's quite interesting in that the silhouette and design are cleverly crafted based in practicality. It’s a mid cut, which is halfway between a boot and a shoe. The reason I did this was to create enough room for the secret compartments without compromising on aesthetic or showing that something is hidden.
Handmade in Ancona, Italy over the course of two weeks, the entire production process calls for 20 artisans working through more than 70 separate stages, which includes cutting, stitching, lasting and finishing to ensure each gadget fits within the specific compartments inside the sole.
As a final touch, the shoes have built-in lifts to add two inches to your height. And while that's hardly gadget-related, it’s certainly a desirable secret feature after all.
