Murfreesboro man creates trendy accessible shoes for people with disabilities

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) - Finding the right shoes can be tough, but for people who wear braces, the challenge is even bigger. One Murfreesboro man is working to change that by making name-brand shoes accessible for people with disabilities.

For kids who wear an AFO brace, shoe shopping often means sacrificing style for function. But Aaron Warren understands that struggle firsthand—and he’s doing something about it.

Warren, who has Spinal Muscular Atrophy, struggled for years to find shoes he liked that fit over his feet. When he couldn’t find them, he decided to create his own.

“I always wanted to wear mainstream shoes,” Warren said. ‘I was putting on my shoes one day, and I was having a lot of trouble getting my shoes on. So I was like, what if I could make my favorite shoes, my favorite Nike shoes, accessible by adding the zipper”

He took his idea to a shoe cobbler in Smyrna, and when he saw the finished product, he knew it was bigger than just him. That idea became Zipped Brands, a company that modifies name-brand shoes by adding zippers. This allows people with braces or limited mobility to wear the styles they love.

“You know when, when kids are in school and you have to wear different shoes, it really just makes you realize how different you are, and that’s okay,” Warren said. “It’s okay to be different. But I feel like if every little chance that you get to fit in, I think that is a good thing.”

In just a few months, Zipped Brands has already helped dozens of people, and Warren is just getting started. His goal is to collaborate with major brands to make adaptive shoes a mainstream option.

“There is a need,” Warren said. “And I think brands can really make strides in the accessible fashion industry.”

To learn more about Zipped Brands, click here.