Page 63 - EducationWorld January 2023

Plaeto co-founder Ravi Kallayil

research and development effort
they invested in designing shoes
suited for Indian feet. And when I
used it myself I was convinced of
its quality,” says Dravid who recalls
that “finding comfortable footwear
in India was a challenge from child-
hood”. In his early cricket career, he
would request senior players who
travelled abroad frequently to bring
back branded athletic shoes for him.
Even for his children, he found that
school shoes lacked in comfort, fit child”. This was the motivation to ity in the global footwear industry.
and design. design and develop “the world’s first Plaeto shoes have a 50 percent lower
s Plaeto’s brand ambas- Multiplay school shoe” that enables carbon footprint as compared to the
sador and mentor of its PE Indian school children to play joy- average athletic shoe,” adds Kallayil.
ATeacher program, Dravid fully while boosting foot health. Beyond its Plaeto footwear prod-
supports the company’s mission “to “Our footwear accommodates ucts range, the company is invest-
provide Indian children with world- broader Indian feet and with Tilt ing time and resources in spreading
class shoes at an affordable price”. Lacing, allows optimal flexibility awareness among the parents and
He believes that by bringing foot for children as it follows the natural educators’ communities about the
health and well-being to mainstream bend of the foot. Also Plaeto 365, the importance of play. Though physi-
discourse, the company is shining a shoe’s long lasting cushioning sys- cal education is an integral part of
strong beam of light on the impor- tem, allows children to play comfort- the curriculum of every school in
tance of ‘play’ in children’s lives ably on any surface through the day. India, it is not given the priority it
(see full interview next page). We add maximum value by providing deserves nor is it delivered profes-
The USP of Plaeto shoes is that quality that matches athletic footwear sionally. Most children dread joyless
they have been specially designed of global brands like Nike, Adidas, PE classes conducted by inadequately
to suit the unique features of Indian Puma etc at a more reasonable price,” trained sports teachers. School sports
feet after extensive research and says Kallayil. Plaeto shoes are priced curriculums are outdated, age-inap-
development. In early 2020, the between Rs.1,800-2,500. propriate and non-inclusive.
company conducted the Plaeto Plaeto is very conscious that our Through its Pioneers PE Teacher
Foot Morphology Research study children will inherit the planet we program, Plaeto intends to train PE
covering 500 school children which leave behind and to this end, the teachers to implement programmes
revealed that children walk and run brand has kept sustainability as one that will enhance opportunities for
over 2,500 km in an academic year of its key pillars. Therefore, Plaeto children to play and grow holisti-
wearing the same school shoes, footwear is made with sustainable cally. It is also working on providing
making footwear “the single most materials. “We are one of the first specialist coaching programmes for
used product in the life of an Indian companies to commit to sustainabil- gifted children who want to pursue

EDUCATIONWORLD JANUARY 2023