The Importance of Shoes From a Students Perspective
October 3, 2021
Fashion is used as a form of expression by a lot of us on the hilltop. Tops and bottoms are commonly mixed and matched to create the perfect outfit that fits the latest trends. But these days around Hackley we see a plethora of shoes that will definitely draw your eyes in the hallway. Whether they’re plaid Air Forces, tie dye Jordans, Converse or many more, we explored what students think about their shoes when putting together an outfit, and why. We walked the campus looking for the 20 most unique shoes we could find and sat down with the students wearing them. We asked questions such as “what do you think about when buying shoes?”, and received a variety of answers. Most students talked about how the shoes look, and the importance of having good style. Others spoke on sustainability and how important it is to buy used or recycled sneakers. We found that the importance of shoes doesn’t stop at looking cool in the halls; 9th Grader Giulia Sorvillo mentioned how important footwear is for her self expression even within the restraints of the Hackley dress code. If a student is wearing a plain outfit, a creative touch on their feet can make them feel confident going into every school day. After this interview process was over, we concluded that shoes can be the sole outlet of expression for Students on the Hilltop, and it is important for everyone to get creative with their choices in order to feel more comfortable during the day.
When taking pictures, we found 3 main reasons students valued shoes. First, they allow most to express themselves through their shoes. These days, many students are limited to wearing certain types of clothing due to the dress code but many said shoes are the exception that help them express their feelings and emotions. Next, students value shoes because they help the environment as well as small business owners. Jackson Beatty says he buys shoes from smaller businesses because they tend to help them gain profit in these tough covid times. Also, Peter Roberts says “When I buy shoes I think about how environmentally friendly they are considering the damage most people are doing to the environment. This is just one small thing that I can do to help.” Lastly, students felt variety of many brands and types of shoes help convey their style and personality without verbally doing so.
Additionally, we took a poll on what shoe brands were the most popular within the Upper school, and the Results are attached below.
