SYDNEY -- Your trusty old thongs (translation: flip flops) may go years without a blow-out, but then always seem to break at the most inappropriate of times.
Thong blow out on Australia Day #paradox pic.twitter.com/B0LoHgBpAS
— CJ Australia (@CJ_Australia) January 26, 2014
Many have tried and failed at solving the serious problem.
Ingenious. You learn a new trick everyday...#nomoreblowouts pic.twitter.com/iWriAMiT4U
— Daniel Payne (@dpayn285) January 21, 2014
Suffered a fatal thong blowout on the way to the coffee shop and had to improvise pic.twitter.com/3zt6xCwmvR
— James Croft (@jamescroft) March 24, 2014
But one Aussie start-up is claiming to have the solution to the age-old problem: The boomerang plug.
Willi Footwear, based on the Gold Coast, raised $AUD10,000 in an hour after putting the summer-saving brief on crowdfunding website Indiegogo. Within 24 hours the company hit 45% of the $AUD30,000 goal.
The lads at Willi want to have their design in production before the Aussie summer, so have reached out the public to get behind them so they can get their product on the feet of the people. The people who have suffered for too long.
Brazilian company Havaianas have dominated the international market for years and the guys at Willi want to mix it up.
Not only are the newly designed thongs a practical solution to possibly the worst problem Australians have, they are also pretty good looking. The thongs have interchangable straps which won't budge from the base and come in a range of colours and sizes.
Using the power of social media and local celebrities such as Iron Woman champion Courtney Hancock and Bondi lifeguard Trent Maxwell, the campaign spread quickly and the funding rose.
“We are overwhelmed by the support so far, but there is a long road ahead and we’re focusing on reaching our funding goal,” Brad Munro, the founder of Willi Footwear, said.
If Willi Footwear reaches its goal amount, it will fund the production run, molds, patent fees plus shipping and logistic costs. So put away the bread clips, there could be a new player in town this summer.