HYPHNT footwear, Pan Macmillan and Spotify unveil world’s first audiobook trainers

The £79 HYPHNT footwear ‘Nova’ junior trainer features embedded Near Field Communication (NFC) technology that connects wearers directly to audiobooks on Spotify, debuting with John Patrick Green’s bestselling InvestiGators graphic novel series. 

A simple tap of a smartphone against the shoe instantly launches the Spotify app, where they can discover the featured audiobook. New books and stories from Pan Macmillan will be introduced over time, giving young wearers a reason to return, tap again and discover what’s next. 

The launch addresses shifting youth literacy habits, backed by data showing audio's growing role in how children learn and explore. Nearly half (47%) of children and young people listen to audiobooks, podcasts, or both, and 56% of these listeners tune in at least once a week. Half (50%) of young audiobook listeners state that listening "feels like reading," while 37% say audiobooks actively sparked their interest in reading more broadly. Meanwhile Spotify’s research shows that 68% of parents who listen to audiobooks use them to help maintain a strong reading culture at home. 

Jason Black, founder of HYPHNT footwear, said: 

'We’ve always believed a trainer can be so much more than a physical product. Having used embedded NFC tech in our adult range to unlock music and gaming, bringing connected footwear to young readers felt like a natural evolution. Kids don’t experience culture in rigid silos - they love trainers, tech, music, and books all at once. Partnering with Pan Macmillan and Spotify allows us to bring those worlds together seamlessly. InvestiGators is just the starting point; kids can tap the same pair of shoes over time to unlock new audiobooks, making reading a high-status lifestyle statement on the pavement.'

Jodie Williams, Head of DEI and Social Impact at Pan Macmillan, said: 

'The National Year of Reading is about finding new ways into stories, especially for those who don't yet see themselves as readers. Libraries and classrooms will always be central to that, but reading should also pop up in the everyday moments of our lives. Embedding audiobooks into footwear sounds playful, and it is, but the idea behind it is simple: when books turn up in unexpected places like a pair of trainers, it shows that reading belongs anywhere.'

Jamie Forrest, Communications Director, Macmillan Children's Books added: 

'Bringing Mango and Brash off the page and into footwear turns reading into an active, everyday adventure. InvestiGators has captured millions of young imaginations, and giving kids an interactive way to step directly into their favorite series makes discovering a great book fun and effortless.'

Roshni Radia, Books Editor at Spotify said: 

'We’re always looking for new ways to help people discover great stories, and we love the idea of giving young people quick and easy access to audiobooks in an unexpected part of their everyday lives. Our collaboration with HYPHNT and Pan Macmillan makes discovering your next listen as simple as tapping your trainers, and is a fun way to get more young people excited about books and storytelling.'