Even the most desperate fashionistas today admit that even an insanely stylish pair of weird shoes should be comfortable – otherwise, there is no sense in its beauty and relevance.
However, the imagination of designers cannot be stopped by the harsh framework of utility. Our heroes approach the design of shoes as art, and each new pair is created as a real art object worthy of a museum. And even if you can’t spend the whole day in crazy shoes, hoof shoes, or sneakers made of tennis balls, you should pay tribute to the ingenuity of “creative shoemakers”.
Some crazy shoes
Alexander McQueen and Lady Gaga’s shoes
Let’s start with a pair of extravagant ankle boots that conquered the world more than a decade ago. It is with them that articles on the topic “the craziest shoes in the world” and “fashion has gone crazy” are often illustrated. In 2009, the late designer Alexander McQueen presented the public with a spring-summer collection that included strange shoes that looked like hooves.
She made the models walk in an alien way, and the hearts of everyone who loves unusual things missed a beat at that moment. Of course, these shoes and boots did not go into mass production but became constant companions of an old friend and devoted admirer of Alexander McQueen’s work – Lady Gaga. A year later, shoes reminiscent of the work of Hans Rudi Giger and clearly intended for unearthly (and very dangerous) creatures were presented on the catwalks.
Hooves by Iris Shiferstein
Iris Shiferstein is a German shoe designer with a heartbreaking (or ruthlessly rational?) approach to work. She creates shoes from natural leather, fur, and hooves, which are certainly impressive and evocative of witches’ covens.
At the dawn of her career, she collected material literally on the streets. Now her main suppliers are meat production, the waste of which is the material Iris needs to work. Shoes are made exclusively by hand, cost a lot of money, and are more likely to end up at exhibitions than in anyone’s wardrobe.
Zaha Hadid Architectural Shoes
Even the ill-informed people who claim that “there are no female architects” have heard of the genius Zaha Hadid. One of the founders of architectural deconstructivism, she won worldwide recognition with her biomorphic buildings, whose forms and lines are filled with hidden passion and lively emotions.
Her weird shoes for United Nude, Lacoste, and Melissa replicate in miniature the techniques that Hadid used in construction – elastic parabolas, bending curves, smoothness, and fluidity. These shoes are made using chrome vinyl, fiberglass, natural leather, and innovative breathable plastic.
Irony and comfort from Kobi Levi
Israeli designer Kobi Levi studied the technology of manufacturing orthopedic shoes – so his extravagant models are impeccably comfortable. For ten whole years, he worked “on the table” (or “in the closet”?), combining work in the shoe industry with the development of his own models, which he did not show to anyone except his relatives. But as soon as he decided to post a few photos of his creations on the Internet, he woke up famous the next morning.
Now among his fans are Lady Gaga and Whoopi Goldberg. Levy still collaborates with large-scale productions, but now he devotes much more time to ironic fantasy models of his own brand. Banana peel shoes, stair-heeled shoes, “tailed”, “winged” and “toothy” shoes are all Levy’s creations. There are also classic boats for respectable ladies in his repertoire.
Hong Chang and 3D printing
The future is already here! Three-dimensional printing from different types of plastic in the fashion world is not new now. Many designers have tried themselves in this area, and for many, it has become a favorite method of creating new things.
Hong Chang has created a collection of shoes made of plastic, rubber, and polyurethane, completely computer-modeled, and 3D printed. So far, all models are made in a single copy. New technologies allow you to create forms that are far from classical – and yet the shoes from Hong Chang are elegant and feminine.
Masaya Kushino in the bird world
Masaya Kushino is a world-famous Japanese designer. To create weird shoes with dizzying heels, he uses bird feathers, and the shapes of the shoes themselves are inspired by images of birds. One of his most famous collections illustrates the evolution of a bird from a fledgling to a strong and free creature.
In addition, the designer is close to the aesthetics of European baroque with its excess and drama, which is reflected in the decor of the shoes.
Nicole McLaughlin – shoes made from garbage as a work of art
Even in an era of social and economic upheaval, the environmental agenda and sensible consumption is not an empty phrase. And here, projects related to the processing of materials are especially important. In addition to recycling plastic and polyester, upcycling is entering the scene – the creation of things from other things that are no longer used for their intended purpose.
Among the designers of this trend, Nicole McLaughlin is already a legend. In the recent past, she has worked for Reebok to create collaborative collections for the brand with Vetements and Walk of Shame. Her work is in great demand. All of them are created in a single copy and are full of irony. She finds objects at home, on the street, and in second-hand stores, which she then turns into clothes and shoes.
Tennis balls, adhesive tape, bags, unnecessary, worn-out things… Nicole tries to acquire exactly those that will definitely not be useful to anyone – with stains, scuffs, and damage. So she feels less guilt about working with them (after all, more or less whole sneakers could last a long time!).
In addition, such things have their own complex history, which is extended and filled with new events by using them in upscaling projects. Badminton slippers, a golf club instead of a heel, a sweater made of hats, and a jacket made of gloves – all of these attract the attention of not only users of social networks but also large brands with which Nicole collaborates.
