The design research
After having worked in the commercial footwear industry for many years, I started questioning why we make shoes such a complex product.
The footwear industry generally uses materials sourced from all around the world, in which price plays the most important role. We look for the cheapest materials and labour, to sell shoes for an affordable price. This means that sometimes the material is purchased in one country, shipped to another country to stitch the upper and then send to yet another county to add the sole to it. Moving all these components around the world requires a lot of transportation and CO2 emissions. It was during my time at Loints of Holland that I realised it is also possible to source materials within Europe. For my master’s research, I am exploring the possibilities to prioritise the health of our feet and environment by using local resources instead.
In this research I approach craftspeople and material designers with various specialities. I visit their workplace to understand their craft and get an insight into the materials and techniques that they work with. Based on these insights I make prototypes of shoes, which I then use as conversation pieces. During the master I developed the ILUPE method do conduct my research
I collaborated with a basketry artist, taxidermists, traditional tanners (bushcraft), but also with material designers that work with human hair as a raw material. My role in this is to translate the material and techniques to a final product.
The new practice
My goal is to inspire footwear professionals for a systemic change in the industry through experimental studies, collaborating with crafts people and material designers.
During my research I actively worked with and broadened my network. The pieces I crafted during my master’s studies serve not only as tangible expressions of my findings but also as ongoing catalysts for dialogue and further research.
“My goal is to inspire footwear professionals for a systemic change in the industry through experimental studies, collaborating with crafts people and material designers.”
My aim is to combine my passion for footwear, education and research. This approach allows me to follow my passions while also making a positive impact on the industry and inspire others to think outside of the (shoe)box.
the designer
For nearly 20 years I have been working in the footwear industry. I started selling shoes as a weekend job, but I soon fell in love with what goes on behind the scenes in footwear. After my commercial management studies, my first job was at SLEM (centre for footwear innovation and education). From there, I moved into product management at ECCO, where I was responsible for the experimental collection, from footwear and material design/development, to collection planning and production. Currently I hold a role as footwear developer at Bata while simultaneously pursuing my passion as a footwear and material researcher and educator.
I have a huge passion for crafts and material. In my spare time I love to research these fields. I practice goldsmithing and this summer I will follow a course in ‘Nordic biomaterial’ at Aalto University in Helsinki. If you have any questions or want to have a chat, feel free to reach out to me via my website or LinkedIn page.
