Footwear Designer Steps into Recycling Venture

Trainer design company MES Footwork is creating a new service
of trainers which are made from recyled clothing.

And already, only weeks after launching the Threads to Treads service, MES Footwork founder and winner of last year’s ‘If we can, you can Challenge’, Matt Scott is in negotiations with some of the biggest names in the retail and charity sectors over potential link-ups.



The creation of the range is now widely tipped to catapult the company, which began in 21 year old Matt’s bedroom, onto an international stage.



Matt has already struck a deal to supply six designs of his custom made trainers to former Sunderland footballer Djibril Cisse’s boutique, Pr9ject, in Newcastle, as well as designing skull embossed shoes for the striker’s personal use.



Rock star Dave Stewart is another of his celebrity customers, who ordered a pair adorned with his own designs.



The business has expanded into a manufacturing unit in South Shields, South Tyneside, to accommodate demand, and employs two people – a seamstress and a footwear development graduate from the London School of Fashion, who helps design MES Footwork’s range.



Matt, who started MES Footwork in 2007, has since invested £12,000 into a website – mesfootwork.com – where people can design their own fantasy footwear for Matt and his team to turn them into reality. Matt said the business – which he started after making a pair of customised trainers for his girlfriend’s birthday – is going from strength to strength.



“Things are going really well. I’ve now got two people working with me, and the unit is operating five days a week to accommodate the orders we’ve already received, so everything is pretty positive,” he said.



“The Threads to Tread service is really attracting a lot of attention, and we feel really ready to tackle the big world of retail.”



“We’re looking at developing more styles to add to the range, which will help in negotiations with some of the bigger retailers.”



“We are in talks at the minute with a big name in the charity world, as well as two big names in the retail sector, so I’m hoping that they will secure orders. We’ve already sealed a deal with Djibril Cisse, which we have based around his infatuation with skulls which are everywhere in his store, and vibrant colours and quirky styles.”



“It’s all very, very exciting, and very new to me. I’m definitely learning as I go, but I have to learn very quickly!”