Designer's idea is a shoe-in

The top part of the shoe unzips, allowing the wearer to add different shades of fabric.

Designer Bernie Hurst-Crosskey, 43, had the idea while on holiday after she was forced to pay an excess baggage charge of more than £100 for carrying ten pairs of shoes in her suitcase.

The mother-of-three, from Arundel Road, Worthing, said: “I was at the airport on the way to the Dominican Republic and I was charged £125 for excess baggage.

“I hunted though my suitcase, trying to take out anything I could to reduce the weight but unfortunately it was my ten pairs of shoes that were the problem.

“I managed to get two pairs into my hand luggage but it was still above the permitted weight allowance.

“On the second day of my holiday I sat by the pool reading a magazine and noticed the array of different coloured shoes that were a must-have for ladies who love shoes.

“I asked myself why there wasn’t one shoe to match every outfit and the idea just came to me.”

When she returned from holiday Bernie set to work on her scheme and found a manufacturer that could produce the shoes.

The Nooshooz range is available in several styles, including stiletto, flip-flop, wedge and mule. The shoes, which cost between £80 and £155 and come with spare sets of uppers, will be on sale from next month.

Bernie, who has put £5,000 into the idea, has previously worked as a chef, a PE teacher and a personal trainer while bringing up her children, Janine, 23, Alicia, nine, and Peter, seven.

Bernie even applied to appear on BBC television show Dragons’ Den but has not yet heard back from the producers.

She said: “I know this is a good idea and everyone I have spoken to has said the shoes are perfect for holidays – you just unzip the uppers and zip the others on. They will also help men who don’t know which shoes to buy a woman as a present.

“My husband Peter and I are looking at launching children’s sizes as well.”

For more information, visit www.nooshooz.co.uk.