Winner 2023 / Special Awards / ARTISTIC FOOTWEAR

Puffed

 

 

  • Lead Designer
    Deborah Kiwi
  • Photo credit
    Shay Ben-efraim
  • Prize
    Winner in ARTISTIC FOOTWEAR
  • Expertise
    Independent

Material: leather, fiberfill
This work visits the craze of blown up, puffy fashion. Clean lines have been replaced by playful, bulky silhouettes. Taking the insecurities of the past few years, it is not surprising that we are seeing over-the-top, inflated garments everywhere.
We can all use a bit of absurdly padded fun at the moment. Or are we actually craving the warm, protective embrace it offers? Either way, it feels like we want to divorce ourselves from reality. With escapism in mind, this footwear is playfully altering familiar lines and distorting volume into whimsical proportions.

Bio
Specializing in unconventional footwear, shoe designer and maker Deborah Kiwi, aims to blur the lines between art and design. Viewing footwear as an extension of the body, her work explores shape and proportion while addressing themes such as culture, gender and sustainability. With a background in Industrial Design, Deborah transitioned to the artisan craft of shoemaking, creating work that is both thoughtful and thought-provoking.

Other prizes
Global Footwear Awards 2023 Winner - Category Sustainability Global Footwear Awards 2023 Winner - Special Awards Artist footwear Global Footwear Awards 2022 Overall Winner - Category Special Awards Global Footwear Awards 2022 Category Winner - Category Special Awards Global Footwear Awards 2021 Winner - Category Artistic Footwear Global Footwear Awards 2021 Honorable Mention - Category Artistic Footwear