Walka Thainan - Learn the story that inspired FOT

When we are young, we want to experience everything life has to offer. On one of his adventures, Thainan saw his life change drastically, experiencing something he never imagined.

If you are young or have been young, answer one question: do you like adventure and adrenaline or something more homely and peaceful?

Regardless of your answer, we all seek to make the most of our choices and our lives.

In today's article, we will tell a story of overcoming, commitment and determination, which inspired us to create one of the most special FOT sneakers.

The Hero's Journey

Born in Rio de Janeiro, Thainan Castro is a visual artist, designer and illustrator who has always enjoyed doodling and being on the move since he was little.

His love for these activities led the artist, at a young age, to seek to improve his skills through drawing illustrations and watercolor techniques. This led him to enroll in the Industrial Design program at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ).

At twenty years old, Thainan saw his life turn upside down.

While slacklining, he lost his balance and ended up falling from a height of four meters, fracturing three vertebrae.

The initial diagnosis received was possible irreversible paralysis from the neck down. In other words, he was quadriplegic.

However, this event was just a dramatic phase in his life. Even with the diagnosis that limited his movements, Thainan continued to practice his love for art.

Through constant mental exercise, his body gradually manifested subtle muscle spasms. There was still hope.

His drawings were integrated into therapeutic and healing methods, and were made by scribbling back and forth, from one side to the other. After all, he still couldn't hold a pen.

Analyzing what he was able to produce, Thainan began creating plots, with light and dark, and also researching the possibilities of artistic expression within these limitations.

“Where can I get to with the dexterity I have? What detail can I achieve with this type of movement?”

Physiotherapy and FOT

With each question the artist asked himself, he discovered that small achievements showed him the path to his recovery.

As he developed his ability to adapt to create his art, his movement improved in the same proportion. He gradually recovered his range of movement, and at the same time expanded the range of his hand gestures.

This led him to draw in more objective ways and with larger papers.

Physical therapy and occupational therapy were great allies in his creative process. The movements he made while creating his work encouraged his body to move. Repetition, challenges and dedication were crucial to achieving what he so desired.

Since he spent most of his day standing, Thainan looked for the ideal footwear to help with his recovery process. That's when he discovered barefoot FOT, which came to help with his rehabilitation.

By using barefoot, it was possible to improve your balance with protection and comfort, in addition to strengthening your body's muscles. 

This is because the use of low, wide, flexible sneakers with more support created a greater connection between the feet and the ground and rescued their best technology: the human one.

After a year and a half, Thainan achieved the surprising recovery of 90% of his body movements.

Walka Thainan - FOT

This story of Thainan's determination and courage inspired us.

Being present during part of your recovery process is something extraordinary, after all, that is our goal: to provide freedom for your feet with protection.

That's why we invited the artist to create a new version of our first barefoot, the Walka.

Walka Thainan was born: the characteristics of a FOT and the beauty created by the visual artist.

 

Steps to tomorrow

After this whirlwind of events in the artist's life, Thainan completed his academic training, worked in different places and developed several creations with his art.

Focusing on his personal work, he found a path that led him to his most special and intimate discovery: the physical and emotional memory of his childhood on a dead-end street in Nova Iguaçu, where he climbed trees, flew kites and played marbles.

The artist revisits stories within himself that can also speak to other people, inviting the viewer to create particular relationships with the work, as part of those moments.

Today, he works in his studio, in Rio de Janeiro, and is represented by Galeria Quadra in Rio de Janeiro – RJ; Galeria Matias Brotas, in Vitória – ES and Arte Formatto, in São Paulo – SP.

Check out some of his works below:

[ “Sunshine Sunday”, 2021, charcoal and acrylic on canvas]
“Curiosas, or 'Where Memories Live'”, 2020, graphite and charcoal on canvas
“Run, boy!”, 2020, graphite and charcoal on canvas