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"Corriere della Sera": Alban Ajdini invents shoes that tie with just one toe
2025-03-10 13:24:32 / SPORT
Albanian citizen Alban Ajdini, who lives in Manduria, Italy, has created a shoe model that can be tied with one finger, writes Rosarianna Romano in an article published in "Corriere della Sera".
"I invented them for the elderly and people with disabilities," said the 40-year-old, who arrived in Brindisi in 1991 and works as a bus and truck driver.
But he has a real passion for inventions. The one-toe shoe was designed for people with disabilities. Now he's going to try to produce them.
Alban Ajdini is 40 years old and works as a driver. Born in Albania, he has lived in Manduria, Taranto for more than 30 years.
In his free time? He thinks of new ideas, which become real prototypes of objects of all kinds. With one condition: that they have not yet been invented by anyone. Like shoes that tie themselves. Or rather: with a finger.
With a simple yet functional design, the shoes created by Albani abandon laces, which are uncomfortable to tie, especially for the elderly and people with disabilities.
Instead, there are two elastic straps, which with a simple gesture allow anyone to put on the shoes with ease.
The General Directorate of Industrial Property Protection granted the patent to Alban Ajdini after the filing of his invention.
Shoes designed for the elderly and people with disabilities
"The reason for this invention? I thought about people with disabilities, who might have difficulty tying their shoes. With my invention, however, one finger is enough. And that's it," Ajdini explains with pleasure.
"The idea has become a project. And it can now enter the market," he added.
"Now the next goal is to give a company the opportunity to produce my shoes on a large scale, because that way they would be affordable for everyone," Albani said.
And for all occasions: shoes, in fact, can complement any outfit, whether office or casual.
Arrival at the port of Brindisi in 1991
Albani was born in Albania but has lived in Italy for almost 34 years. He arrived in Puglia when he was six years old.
Together with his parents, who, like thousands of people, in the early 1990s saw the Adriatic coast as a synonym for hope and the future.
Albani landed in the port of Brindisi on March 7, 1991 and has been living in the province, in Manduria, ever since.
It was here, four years ago, that the 40-year-old thought about his shoes.
"I drive for a living. I really like walking. The idea, actually, came to me while I was taking a walk around the city and observing people with disabilities and elderly people with canes," Albani said.
"With this invention I hope to improve their lives. And now, after the patent has been granted, this dream can become a reality," he added.
Even though Albani was very young, he remembers well the day he arrived in Puglia.
"I have a vivid picture, especially of the daily life that we built as soon as we arrived in Italy," he said.
"In particular, I will always have in my heart the help that Caritas gave us, both for us children and for our parents. I had a great time in Puglia and continued all my studies. After finishing high school I started university, but after the first exams I decided to change my life," said Albani.
This is how Albani's days pass between work and new creations. And, in fact, new inventions are expected in the future.
"I have other projects in mind. For example? When a truck or bus gets stuck on the road, you need a crane and straps, which attach to the back," he said.
"To avoid this, since vehicles like trucks are long, there is space to insert hydraulic equipment that relies on the electric track. With this mechanism, the rear part could be lifted. This would allow their circulation to resume much faster," Albani said.
For Albani, inventions are a true passion
"Creating prototypes is my favorite hobby. My job is to be a driver," he said.
"I have all the driving licenses and can drive everything from motorcycles to trucks with trailers. However, in my free time, I like to think about these inventions," he added.
"But my goal is not to make money. I have a job and I'm happy. What I want is to create useful things that can help people. I would like to contribute to society in this way," Albani said.
Time is the best judge, we will see what happens and whether these inventions will truly improve the lives of the most fragile.
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