Press Release
Para Waraji Sandals by Maki Izawa Wins the Bronze A' Design Award in Footwear, Shoes and Boots Design
Maki Izawa acknowledged for footwear, shoes and boots design by the international grand jury of the 2022 - 2023 A' Design Award & Competition
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
COMO, Italy, April 20, 2023 /DesignNewswire/ A' Design Award & Competition has announced that Para Waraji Sandals by Maki Izawa, designed for Maki Izawa Design Studio, has been granted the Bronze A' Design Award in the Footwear, Shoes and Boots Design category. The result belongs to the 2022 - 2023 A' Design Award & Competition and was reached through blind peer review by an international grand jury panel of established academics, design professionals and press members, who assessed anonymized entries against predetermined criteria.
What the Bronze A' Design Award Means
The Bronze A' Design Award is given to outstanding designs that showcase a high degree of creativity and practicality. It recognizes the dedication and skill of designers who produce work that stands out for its thoughtful development and innovative use of materials and technology. These designs are acknowledged for their professional execution and potential to influence industry standards positively. Winning this award highlights the designer's ability to blend form and function effectively, offering solutions that enhance people's lives and wellbeing.
About Para Waraji Sandals
Para Waraji was created to ensure a secure and peaceful everyday life through prevention. Originally made of straw, Waraji was worn by Japanese commoners and samurais to protect their feet and ward off bad luck and disasters. Para Waraji, however, is made of a durable parachute cord, making it suitable for daily wear and emergency situations. This innovative product not only provides foot protection but can also be untied and used as a rope for wound care and fixation. By blending traditional Japanese craftsmanship with modern technology, Para Waraji sets a great example of innovation.
About Maki Izawa
Maki Izawa creates designs that enhance people's lives by considering the interaction between space, objects, and people. Her designs focus on optimizing both aesthetics and functionality to create a deep emotional connection with people's hearts. She mainly designs interiors, products, and packages. She graduated from the Osaka University of Arts. After working in an interior design company and at a design firm, she established Maki Izawa Design Studio in Tokyo, Japan. A' Design Award and Competition Bronze.
Award Record
Maki Izawa is a winner of 1 A' Design Award, including this recognition.
About the A' Footwear, Shoes and Boots Design Award
The A' Footwear Design Award is an international footwear design competition recognizing good footwears by leading footwear brands and designers worldwide. The competition is organized within the A' Design Award & Competition and is open to footwear designers, shoe designers, boot designers and fashion designers from all countries. Entries typically include shoes, sneakers, sandals, boots, heels and loafers. Awarded footwear designs are published at https://designers.org/design-category/footwear
About A' Design Award & Competition
A' Design Award & Competition is an international, juried design accolade organized annually since 2008. The competition is open to entries from all countries. The A' Design Award has a philanthropic mission to advance society through good design by recognizing and promoting superior products, projects and services that benefit society, and by creating a global awareness and appreciation for good design practices and principles. Entries are peer reviewed and anonymously evaluated by an international grand jury panel of established academics, design professionals and press members against predetermined criteria such as functionality, ergonomics, engineering, presentation, innovation, usability, sustainability and technology, with score normalization applied to remove biases. Awards are conferred at Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze and Iron levels. The A' Design Prize granted to eligible laureates includes the award trophy, the certificate of design excellence, the hardcover yearbook, a lifetime license to use the A' Design Award winner logo, exhibition of awarded works, an invitation to the gala night and award ceremony in Italy, inclusion in the World Design Rankings and Designer Rankings, and public relations and publicity services. Registration, the upload of a work and the preliminary score are free of charge, and Professional and Digital Edition laureates are not contractually obliged to pay further fees to claim the A' Design Prize. Further information is available at https://competition.adesignaward.com
Press Resources
- Winner Page: https://designers.org/150134
- A' Design Award Page: https://competition.adesignaward.com/150134
- Media Showcase: https://www.designnewsroom.com/!150134
- Laureate Profile: https://designers.org/d/339724
Media Contact
Giulia Ferrari, Press Office
Designers.Org
Via Leone Leoni 32, 22100 Como, Italy
press@designers.org
+39 031 4491953
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Fact Sheet
The Work
- Project
- Para Waraji Sandals
- Function
- Sandals
- Category
- Footwear, Shoes and Boots Design
- Discipline
- Fashion Design
- Industry
- Fashion and Sports
- Colors
- Black, Gray, Dim Gray, Dark Slate Gray and Gainsboro
- Images
- 5
- Client
- Maki Izawa Design Studio
The Recognition
- Laureate
- Maki Izawa
- Country
- Japan
- Recognition
- Bronze A' Design Award
- Edition
- 2022 - 2023
- Design ID
- #150134
Design Details
- Unique Properties
- Para Waraji is a Waraji sandal woven with Parachute Cord. Waraji is a traditional Japanese footwear made of straw that used to be worn by commoners and samurai in the past. Traditional Japanese Waraji have been believed to offer protection and ward off evil spirits as amulets or talismans. They were thought to protect their feet and keep away bad luck and disasters. Para Waraji is a fusion of traditional Japanese craftsmanship and modern technology.
- Inspiration
- The world is currently facing various issues including energy and food crises due to war, extreme weather, and natural disasters. Para Waraji was born as an idea that incorporates the idea of prevention to spend every day calmly and safely. Para Waraji is a Waraji sandal woven with a very strong and durable parachute cord. It not only protects the feet in everyday life, but also serves as a versatile tool in emergencies by untying the woven cord to use as a rope for wound care, hemostasis, fire starting, and dental floss, providing assistance in various aspects of daily life during emergencies.
- Research
- Para Waraji are a fusion of traditional Japanese craftsmanship and modern technology. A material of outstanding durability and versatility, paracord adds strength and functionality to the traditional waraji design. The intricate weave patterns and color combinations of paracord reflect the attention to detail and aesthetic sensibilities that characterize Japanese design. The result is a unique and practical footwear that embodies a spirit of innovation and respect for tradition.
- Challenge
- Waraji craftsmen are getting older, and the number of people weaving straw sandals is decreasing.I had a hard finding people who would make them.I would also like to carry out activities to protect the wonderful traditional craftsmen of Japan.
- Realization and Technology
- Para Waraji is woven using 4mm paracord. Paracord is a lightweight nylon rope originally developed for suspending military parachutes. Paracord is strong, durable, flexible and abrasion resistant. It is made of a kernmantle construction, meaning it has a strong inner core surrounded by a woven outer sheath. It is available in a wide range of colors and patterns. Para Waraji are designed to wrap around the ankle through small loops on the left and right sides and long loops on the heel, so they fit securely around the sole of the foot and are very easy to walk in.
- Operation and Interaction
- Para Waraji are designed to wrap around the ankle through small loops on the left and right sides and long loops on the heel, so they fit securely around the sole of the foot and are very easy to walk in. There is a basic way to tie a Para Waraji, but the strings can be tied in any way you like, so you can change the impression to suit your mood.
- Project Duration and Location
- The project started in September 2022 in Japan. It was exhibited in Tokyo in October 2022. It was exhibited in Osaka in December 2022.
- Specifications
- Made to fit the size of each foot. Para Waraji are lightweight, soft, and comfortable on the foot, giving a sensation as if you are walking barefoot. Feet are well protected while sensations in the toes and soles are strengthened, blood circulation is improved, and the footwear is health-conscious, reducing foot fatigue without stressing the feet.
- Keywords
- #design, #lifestyle, #preparation, #tokyo, #product, #productdesign, #waraji, #japandesign, #japan, #paracord, #traditional crafts, #parawaraji, #designer, #art, #makiizawa
