Ye Shen · CLIENT: Ye Shen
Wacky Pack is a collection of shoes that explores new ways to close footwear. Each pair replaces traditional laces with an alternative fastening system, such as a shoe cover, metal snaps, or a full zipper. The closures change how each shoe is worn and allow several looks from a single pair. Veg-tanned leather in various thicknesses and custom metal hardware are used across the collection. Pattern pieces were hand cut, sewn and hand lasted. Extensive prototyping refined the proportion, the soling methods and the closure design.
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- Wacky Pack explores the concept and possibilities of footwear closure, or traditionally speaking, "how-to-tie-a-shoe". It explores unorthodox construction and fastening method, creating unique yet diverse interactions between the shoe and the user, providing a new level of improvisation and customization for your day-to-day look.
- Tags
- Interactive Footwear, Fashion Sneakers, Alternative Closure, Shoemaking, Leather Goods
- Production Technology
- Veg-tanned leather with various thickness and metal hardware were used across the pack. All non-leather soft materials were dyed to match the cream color. The hardware selection was custom-tailored to perform the unique closures.
Each design was explored and validated through intensive prototyping to finalize the proportion, soling methods, and most importantly, closure system design.
All pattern pieces were hand cut, cemented, sewn, then assembled with metal hardwares and hand lasted, finished with various soling techniques and materials, finally sanded and finished. - Project Duration
- This Project was created in a 4-month period in Fall 2018, within a shoe-making course taught by Anne Marika Chasse at Rhode Island School of Design.
- Operation Flow
- Bao Bao: Shoe born inside a shoe cover. Wear it close, wear it open, wear it flipped.
O Snap: Turn O-snap on, snap pieces to each other. Snap None or snap all; snap some or snap one, it's up to you.
Sticky Fingers: Shoe zipped all the way around. Zip or unzip, front or back. Zip it close, hide inside; Zip it open, reveal yourself. - Research
- Gen-Z and Millennials will soon be (if not already) the core consumer of fashion and luxury. With low brand loyalty and contemporary view of value, all they are after is fresh concepts that grab their attentions, concepts that become the pieces and its value.
Brands are all playing up to these desires. But with the Millennials’ quick shift of attention, very soon a pure concept won’t attract them anymore, and they would want something more, they would want to be a part of the concept. - Inspiration
- What does it mean to tie a shoe? Why does it need to be tied?
If all a shoe need to do is to enclose your foot, how differently can a shoe perform this task?
Can the mundane action of "shoe-tying" turns into something more meaningful or entertaining? Can the closure dictate how a shoe works, or become a shoe itself? Can it alter the user's experience and behavior?
Press releases are available in 1 languages.