Colour is my home base, but the shoe is my canvas. Over ten years I've worked across materials, trims, hardware, print, pattern, upper construction, midsole, and outsole development; for men, women, and kids; for sports and lifestyle; for summer freedom and winter utility.
Updating an icon like the Chuck Taylor is a challenge and a privilege: soft suede with a scalloped edge, lace-inspired embroidery, a simple tie-dye in happy hues to serve women's many styles.
Same model, three consumers, one clear concept each time: utility (jungle cloth, overlays), workwear (hickory stripe), luxury (custom rubber, textural material mix).
I subverted the standard sustainability aesthetic with fresh, unexpected colour, made for younger people who want to do better and look better.
Undyed, unbleached canvas. Embroidered eyelets instead of metal. Nothing more than what's needed.
Sport can mean designing for the athlete (Nike, Reebok), or through a heritage brand's retro lens (Converse). Sometimes, through the transformative power of CMF, you can do both for one model.
For winter footwear function must come first: the best protective materials, and a versatile look that speaks to quality, built to work day in, day out.
With leather sneakers, I draw inspiration from the craft, elevated materials and detailing of dress shoes - pony hair, durable overlays, hairy suede, logo treatments, and more - to make shoes with presence.
Holiday glamour on a kids' budget comes down to placement - the expensive material exactly where it counts - and print - like this art I designed that captures the joy of a kids' party.
I had a lot of fun developing a balloon-like patch full of shakeable beads for kids, inspired by their hobbies and playfulness.