CONCEPTUAL studies
Ideas are powerful, but an idea that never leaves the mind carries no weight. This section serves as a library of designs brought through my full process—from initial sketch to fully realized, wearable form. To me, a drawing is never enough, I believe the actual learning process of manufacturing a shoe gives me invaluable knowledge to perfect my craft.
Each shoe was designed, developed, pattern-drafted, sewn, and lasted by me.
CONCEPT 01
Three Quarter View
Lateral / Medial View
The First Read
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Triple zipper trekking boot
The Second Read
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White calfskin leather
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Beige suede upper
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Gunmetal lace loops
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Vibram hiking outsole
The Third Read
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A reiteration of my first ever shoe I designed, 01 is a refined, toned down version with attention to detail to create a more luxury feeling. The shoes are outfitted with three RiRi zippers and a back zipper for ease of entry while the lacing system locks down the foot.
CONCEPT 02
Three Quarter View
Lateral / Medial View
The First Read
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Low top monochromatic skate silhouette
The Second Read
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Variety of calf skin scrap
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Vibram cupsole
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Calfskin lining
The Third Read
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02 was a study on sustainability, every piece was collected from a scrap pile of leather where I color matched as closely as possible, this created a variance in hues and textures creating an almost frankenstein concept. I played with motion and form to create a alien upper that would be subdued with the heavy thick outsole.
CONCEPT 03
Three Quarter View
Lateral / Medial View
The First Read
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Boro repair high top sneaker
The Second Read
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Handstitched details
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Hidden side zipper and back zipper
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Calfskin accordion heel
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Vibram outsole
The Third Read
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A step into a more explorative space, 03 was a study based on Boro repairs, I had never seen it implemented into a product yet so I took this as a chance to let the natural tears and imperfections in the leather speak. I chose to create an accordion style heel counter to see how it could wrap around the heel and create an different approach to traditional shoes.
CONCEPT 04
Three Quarter View
Lateral / Medial View
The First Read
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High top padded boot
The Second Read
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Perforated calfskin, matte black calfskin
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Puff padded upper
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Vibram outsole
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Beige calfskin lining
The Third Read
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Inspired from a scorpion, I wanted to explore how to translate design cues from the insect onto a boot. I played around with quilting as I felt like it was a necessary manufacturing process to learn if I wanted to create more depth to the product itself. Through implementing three different hides of black leather it was interesting to see how important textures are for cmf.
CONCEPT 05
Three Quarter View
Lateral / Medial View
The First Read
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Low top quilted slip on
The Second Read
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Vegetable tan leather
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Beige calfskin
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Vibram outsole
The Third Read
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For this concept I wanted to create a slip on silhouette that played with contrasting refined calfskin and vegetable tanned leather to create a product that looked like it could be an organism from another world. I found that you can tone down such an complex upper by using an traditional outsole.
CONCEPT 06
Three Quarter View
Lateral / Medial View
The First Read
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Mid top skate silhouette
The Second Read
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Suede
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Calfskin upper
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Double stacked outsole
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3m seam taping
The Third Read
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One of my more complex projects, I was able to utilize seam taping on leather to create a flat upper while still building depth. I imagined a shoe that would take up more space so I compensated by stacking the outsole and raising the collar to give it more form.
CONCEPT 07
Three Quarter View
Lateral / Medial View
The First Read
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High top leather boot
The Second Read
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Shrunken Calfskin Leather
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Gunmetal lace loops
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Tear resistant waxed laces
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Calfskin lining
The Third Read
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With such an simple silhouette, I wanted to push the boundaries on this shoe through pattern drafting. The upper drapes nicely over the shoe creating a layering effect, while the flared opening gives otherwise an simple shoe an unique silhouette that stands out.
CONCEPT 08
Three Quarter View
Lateral / Medial View
The First Read
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Low top elastic sneaker
The Second Read
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Calfskin leather
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Grey suede
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Lambskin lining
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Rubber skate outsole
The Third Read
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This whole concept was able to be laid flat and constructed together with minimal stitch lines locking down the entire pattern. This eliminated any extra steps where I would have to move off of the sewing machine and add pieces on and was able to completely construct the upper on a flatbed.
CONCEPT 09
Three Quarter View
Lateral / Medial View
The First Read
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High top leather mountaineering boot
The Second Read
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Shrunken Calfskin Leather
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Gunmetal lace loops
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Tear resistant waxed laces
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Closed cell neoprene lining
The Third Read
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A high top triple zipper hiking boot with boot hardware for a outdoor aesthetic, outfitted with a vibram outsole and foam cushion. Highly inspired by vintage mountaineering boots and the silhouette of luxury boots.
CONCEPT 10
Three Quarter View
Lateral / Medial View
The First Read
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Triple zipper luxury high top boot
The Second Read
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Bleached vegetable tan leather
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Shrunken calfskin lining
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Stacked wooden sole
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Waterproof ykk zippers
The Third Read
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A high top triple zipper boot, this silhouette was born from my love from designers such as Carol Christian Poell and Guidi. I wanted to take that stacked skinny silhouette and introduce my own variation of this style. To this day these are my most worn concept and fit my aesthetic best.
CONCEPT 11
Three Quarter View
Lateral / Medial View
The First Read
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High top luxury elastic boot
The Second Read
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Premium waxed calfskin leather
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Elastic sides
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RiRi back zipper
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Stacked leather heel
The Third Read
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A reiteration of the previous design, I wanted to make the boot again in a blacked out style. I opted to use premium waxed leather that would age well over time and RiRi back zipper to finish it off. With elastic on the sides, the shoes fit the ankle comfortably and there is no need for adjustment.
CONCEPT 12
Three Quarter View
Lateral / Medial View
The First Read
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Slip on loafer
The Second Read
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Calfskin
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Lambskin lining
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Vibram tread
The Third Read
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I reimagined the boots into a low top variation and took the design language to create an casual slip on shoe that focused on comfort and ease of access. The soft rubber outsole gives the shoe some bounce and resistance and the leather insole forms around the foot.
CONCEPT 13
Three Quarter View
Lateral / Medial View
The First Read
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Slip on indoor loafer
The Second Read
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Soft calfskin leather
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Mesh lining
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Vibram tread
The Third Read
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A reiteration of the previous design, I approached this shoe with the mindset of it being a indoor shoe you can slide in and out of. To achieve the relaxed look, I removed the reinforcement on the toe and heel portions and over lasted the upper on the foam midsole and finished it with a vibram tread.
CONCEPT 14
Three Quarter View
Lateral / Medial View
The First Read
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Low top laced trainer
The Second Read
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Tumbled calfskin leather
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Reflective shiny calfskin leather
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Lambskin lining
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Rubber outsole
The Third Read
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This trainer was brought to life with inspiration from flowers, my approach going into making this was to design with the less is more mindset but make sure the less was thoughtful. With stitch and turn construction on the heel and toe, the shoes are resistant to the stitches tearing on points of contact and give it a luxury touch.
CONCEPT 15
Three Quarter View
Lateral / Medial View
The First Read
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High top luxury boot
The Second Read
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Stacked leather sole
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Riri zippers
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Lambskin lining
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Calfskin exterior
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Vibram tread
The Third Read
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A high top triple zipper boot constructed from heavy calfskin leather and a lambskin lining that molds with wear, with three zippers that wrap around the ankle for an adjustable silhouette and a stacked leather sole with a foam cushion for comfort. This was the pinnacle of my designs, with a blend of futuristic design and traditional construction to create something unique.
