A story with every step

This is a shoe design that infuses modern design with a retro flair and cultural significance. This shoe is more than just another hand made shoe that I've done before but a representation of my family's country and the political turmoil that is imposed on the people who suffer as a result of this. Structurally this project showcases a recycled wool coversheet symbolizing the dictatorship and oppression in Venezuela covering a hydro dipped canvas upper that represents the vibrant people and diverse culture of Venezuela shown with the reds blues and yellows swirled together projecting how all these different people fighting together and the white stars showing the way forward. Exploring how everyday objects can have a powerful message creating a statement. These shoes are based from the same line, the air Jordan brand. I’ve made a complete Jordan 1 from scratch and have taken inspiration from the Jordan 3 with its white and grey base. The white in my culture represents religion and purity of god. So many people in South America where a lot of white items of clothing representing this. They grey is to represent the oppression and dictatorship the country is suffering under due to the horrific government so I wanted to represent that in my art work, and what better to do that than with a pair of shoes, something everyone needs but unfortunately in the situation Venezuela are in, not everyone has access to.​ I used the inspiration from the grey “elephant print” used on the Jordan 3 and decided to use this grey snake skin pattern to symbolise the venomous snakes in Venezuela and the government that are poisoning the country. The recycled wool can be ripped away revealing the vibrant red, blue and yellow of the flag with the white stars symbolising removing the ugly parts you reveal the true natural beauty of the place and the people.​