Leuty Parker

Tag: #Walking

  • Value

    From my previous role as a fashion developer, I’m accustomed to evaluating garments and their properties through a cost-focused lens.

    With whole industries focusing on how to price the end product is a very important issue. What I had to do was build tech packs for manufacturers with the Mr fabrics or findings being called “tech packs”.

    However, the true value of a product can extend far beyond the item itself. In the industry I worked in, and within my role, the focus was firmly on the end product—yet my recent purchase of @ChristianLouboutin shoes, which I’ve written about time and time again, really clarified for me how value can be perceived in a completely different way.

    They paired effortlessly with my wardrobe and were incredibly easy to wear, everything you’d expect from a luxury trainer. However, considering they’re from @ChristianLouboutin, the quality has been a real disappointment.

    After less than a year, they’re already falling apart, a clear sign of poor craftsmanship. For a brand positioned at such a high level, and with a price tag that felt almost painful to justify, the reality simply hasn’t lived up to the expectation.

    However, a new, less superficial sense of value emerges here. Beyond simply being expensive, the pleasure and satisfaction of owning a pair of those iconic red soled trainers was incomparable far outweighing the initial pain of the purchase.

    Taking both perspectives into account, I’d say the overall value ultimately balances out….

    I’m Leuty has a pair of (highly damaged and scuffed) red sold trainers

  • The next step

    … forget the pun. From brain injury to walking again, from recovery to innovation, high heels have always been part of my story, a symbol of freedom and identity.

    My high heel journey….

    As u had to relearn how to walk entirely from scratch, this project feels especially personal. From those first steps in the wheelchair, to exploring what high heels mean to my identity, to examining current examples of smart or SET shoes — this work embodies everything that truly matters to me.

  • Accessibility

    In my traumatic brain injury, I didn’t have too many mental implications, however, my pshocal effects were heart breaking. Trying to strengthen my balance and muscles meant gym, workout, gym, workout, gym…..

    The biggest heartbreak was not being able to walk in my beautiful high heel collection. With high heel brands’ flat shoes( (like Jimmy Choo) my heels still remain. Just gathering dust, while I design a strategy to teach me to get this skill back.

    Come join me, you know joy want to….

  • Jimmy Choo

    Go big, or go home. Splashing out on a pair of premium, fabulous shoes makes you paranoid to to damage them.

    When you’re learning to walk, you’re likely to damage them.

    So my thoughts are, investing in a pair of Jimmy Choo FLAT pumps has exponentially improved my walking.

    Well worth investing in my wellbeing; probably not the main intention behind this design.

  • #JimmyChoo

    After doing research on #JimmyChoo ‘’s #SWT (smart wearable technology) releases, this had no influence on what I just did….

    The original #shoelover is back

    With brand new #JimmyChop flat shoes, which I can actually walk in (after RELEARNING HOW TO WALK) after TBI left me utterly physically impaired, buying into Tthis brand has made me feel me “me”. More confident.

  • Rebuilt

    A common symptom of a brain injury, is loss of memory. With this, you loose your identity. So, to find my baseline identity, I call it my “essence”, I have a method to alleviate this:

    If you (or I) were to choose ONE item to signify/resemble my identity, what would it be?

    This can be something you already own, or something you could buy.

    It does take some effort to know yourself that well…

    I’ll give you an example:

    Mine would be the high heel shooe

    Objectively, it oozes fermenting (whether a man or a woman wearing it). It looks good on any outfit.

    Subjectivity, it makes me feel more confident, sexy, powerful, committed to achieve this wanted skill, attention grabbing (sadly, I’m learning at present, so bad attention in fear I’ll fall).

    So after much training, I’m actually rather good at walking (gym treadmill = 1km L3) so now for the next “step”….

    The heels

  • #Nike Free

    For my walking impaired peers…

    This is a huge plug for #Nike , but for a new target market (maybe) for #Nike -Those who are learning to walk….

    This model retains the brand style, but is exceptionally functional, mimicking how your feet work when barefoot. They’re so flexible, enhancing the flexibility of the foot.

    Additional features; the upper is so light, breathable material, but the product’s shape reflects that of the anatomy of the foot.

    It has laser shaped grooves that enhance flexyness, but maintains stiffness. It mimics the bare runners foot pressure a lot.

    How the average runner runs, they specifically moves in a 33 degree angle, toe-to-heel-to-toe repetition.

    It’s based on the method of barefoot running, supposedly. But first you must walk (which I’m still performing), then you run.

    Although beautifully thought out ergsnomically, these shoes’ dimensions need adjusting. Even though they’re designed for running, I think the laces ar far too long; so I cut them circa 15cm, burning the ends to avoid them fraying and getting shorter/shorter/shorter etc.


    Nike Free helps enhance the body’s natural motion, and the barefoot runner experience vary around how it’s felt on the foot.

    You can track your running method on the Free Scale, found on the website.

  • High heels

    After several years of personal training, I can FINALLY walk. Always one to exceed expectations, I passed on all this hard work, recovering from a brain injury and learning to walk again. To deliver this information about how I did it, I performed a speech…. In high heels (see below).

    There was parts about when enduring this condition, you have a loss of identity. This is unfortunate because your identity is made up of memories.

    Few people can choose a product that describes their identity. But I could….. high heels.

    Both aesthetic reasons, and psychological ones too. They change your figure, push your shoulders back so enhances your figure, and they’re a great complement to most outfits. But psychologically;

    They attract attention, confidence, make me feel sexy and dominant and powerful.

    For most of human history, there has been a power shift: men have a better pay while women are “home makers”.

    With equal pay introduced, more flat shoes have been worn. I call for a switch-a-rol. Women to be the dominant sex, through heels.

  • Motivational speach

    This picture can embellish “passion for fashion”.

    After going to the gym most days, ever overstepping the limits, not only did I learn to walk using @neurophysio work out route, I presented a lecture at @SHIF in my high heels (seen below).

  • All the Things I’ve Learned…

    The brain injury is like a second life… for me, Ii had to relearn how to: talk, remember, read, write, learn and walk.

    My writing near the beginning after it happened.

    A more tricky thing (which many people without brains injury) was managing my diabetes. With help of Freestyle Libre

    On my arm

    And both starting & completing my MBA.

    As redesigning my personality, heels have been a BIG part of my adult life, making me feel confident, sexy, feminine… so far my next trick…

    Every day