Meet Zhen Wang the 2020 China Footwear winner! Zhen is a 21-year-old student from Yantai City in Shandong Province, and is currently studying at the Beijing Institute of Fashion Technology.
Tell us about you submission?
The design is called ‘Octopus’. It combines 3D printing, bionic design, modular design and traditional leather sculpting techniques. First of all, the sole is inspired by the bionic design of octopus tentacles and is 3D printed with a double-layer structure. The top layer of the sole is hollowed out to ensure light weight while extending the upper like an octopus tentacle. The bottom layer of the sole pattern from the octopus suction cups, to ensure slip resistance and wear resistance. At the same time, the sole is extended by a strap wrapped around the upper, with a magnetic closure that can be quickly removed. The upper part consists of a diving sockliner and a removable leather carving module. The leather carving parts on the upper are attached to the upper by Velcro and can be removed and placed at will according to preference. The shape of each leather carving module is derived from the repetition and deformation of the circle, and can be freely arranged and distributed like an octopus sucker.
What are your thoughts on working with leather?
A good leather product can be used for a lifetime, to eliminate waste in order to practice the most efficient concept of sustainable development. As a designer, we should try our best to give full play to our creative ideas and bring the advantages of leather to the best. Let people feel the beautiful experience and artistic value of leather products.
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