Spraying your favourite shoes with waterproof aerosols could become a thing of the past as new waterproof shoes have been introduced to the footwear market.

British-based manufacturers Hi-Tec have become the first company to apply ion-mask, a treatment which makes substances completely repellent to water, to footwear.

The treatment, originally developed for use by the army, can be applied to many different materials, including paper and cloth.

Head of marketing for Hi-Tec Simon Bonham welcomed the advance, saying: “Just as the mobile phone changed the face of telecommunications, ion-mask will change how you and your footwear behave around water.”

The company launched its range to the media this morning at the London Aquarium.

Rollasoles are another UK-based brainchild that have stepped footwear up a level lately, as women can now have the choice to kick their painful heels to the kerb after a night out in favour of disposable flat pumps.

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