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The Rowe is a moulded shoe designed by Charles Johnson of Driven By Charles for World Shoe in Akosombo, Ghana. It was recently named “Fashion Design of the Year” at the inaugural edition of the Africa International Design Awards, AIDA for short, with further recognition in footwear and sustainable fashion.
Lifestyle shoe or practical product?
The shoe was born from the needs of healthcare workers during the pandemic, who, and rightly so, prioritise comfort, hygiene and durability. During development, the shoe started to take on a more polished look, becoming a lifestyle product tied to those same practical demands. Johnson described it as a “retreat for the feet“ but also wanted it to hold its own as a fashion piece. In one styling test, The Rowe was paired with a tuxedo to show how far it could go beyond the usual casual clog.
The Rowe began as a clog-like shoe, with Johnson having decided to keep the simple wearability of a moulded clog while closing and reinforcing the heel to give it more structure. He called the early idea a “slog”: part shoe, part clog. The final design keeps the familiar moulded base, with a cleaner profile, sharper surfaces, a stronger heel and more deliberate styling.
Inspired by Japanese design culture
The main inspiration for The Rowe was the Nissan Hyper Force concept car, which Johnson visited in December 2022 at Nissan Motor Company’s World Headquarters in Yokohama, Japan, where he joined international designers for a private viewing of upcoming models, concept cars and interiors. The visit strengthened his interest in Japanese design culture, particularly its focus on detail, discipline and precision, which then shaped the shoe’s sharper surfaces.
That unique influence appears in the swept-back side profile, the angled stance and the crisp lines across the upper. The “vents” are placed along the lines of the shoe, and the heel is more built-up than a classic open clog, giving The Rowe a more structured character.
Fun and fashion-forward
Johnson used a soft colour palette, with shades such as “Pistachio”, “Natural”, “Rosa” and “Sky Blue” dressing the shoe. The colours give The Rowe a calmer look, and its presentation was shaped to feel fun and current, setting it apart from World Shoe’s other model, The Manny, which has a more humanitarian focus.
The campaign used the line “Not A Shoe” to celebrate and push The Rowe forward, linking it to commitment, living wages and World Shoe’s wider purpose. What it wasn’t connected to, however, was a status symbol, a collaboration and a logo. Mother World was the central figure in the campaign, having been presented as a modern character connected to care, health and style.
Built with sustainability in mind
The Rowe is made in Ghana from compression-moulded EcoPure® EVA foam, a material that keeps the shoe lightweight, durable and suitable for large-scale production. According to AIDA, the patent-pending foam includes an anti-microbial agent and a biodegradation accelerant. Independent laboratory tests found that it exceeded industry standards for tear strength, flexibility, durability, cushioning, lifespan and shape retention.
The foam was developed as an alternative to traditional EVA, which can remain in the environment for many years. Due to an organic additive, the material biodegrades in landfills and marine environments. The antimicrobial agent is made from discarded oyster shells, processed into a powder and tested for its antimicrobial properties.
The Rowe is also connected to World Shoe’s wider social-enterprise model. A portion of profits supports health interventions, shoe distribution and hygiene education. Production is based at the company’s factory in Akosombo, in Ghana’s Volta region, where AIDA says World Shoe has created 200 jobs.
Project information
Prizes: Fashion Design of the Year 2026, Winner 2026 Fashion Design – Footwear: Fashion Shoes, Fashion Design – Sustainable Fashion
Company: World Shoe, Inc.
Lead Designer: Charles Johnson
Design Team: Driven By Charles LLC
Manufacturer: World Shoe Limited
Location: Akosombo, Ghana
