These two boots designs were my starting point as an independent shoe designer. I had limited shoemaking sources, the sewing machine only and had to avoid all these obstacles. So I need to build one type of shoe last to use in creating many different footwear types. I built an asymmetric pump shoe last with low heels.
Back in the days when I started my own shoe collection I needed to build a winter collection, and I used these pump shoe lasts to create ankle boots, knee boots using a unique pattern making approach.
I invented many design approaches to overcome the lack of good materials, like an additional element I added to the back of the boots made from thick veg tanned leather.
This rough leather element suited the thick and rocky upper leather that I had to use for the upper. Together they created a gross and heavy look just as I wanted.
The inspiration came from different knight armors, shells. They have a warlike essence, they are heavy, gross and beautiful at the same time. These design aspects I searched for in my footwear design.