Ice Black Crash 2013
“Ice Black Crash” was my final-year collection for the Bachelor of Arts at the University of Art and Design Linz. I studied shoe design for eight semesters, during which I developed a collection inspired by the Austrian Alps, the first alpinist Heinrich Harrer, and Amazonian natural materials. The collection incorporates latex and accessories made from pirarucu fish scales.
Arapaima or Pirarucu
Pirarucu is known in English as Arapaima or simply Pirarucu (Arapaima gigas). It is one of the world’s largest freshwater fish, native to the Amazon basin, often nicknamed the "Amazon cod" or "giant of freshwater" due to its size (reaching over 3m) and economic importance.
Wood
In addition, I worked with lightweight pine wood, which I shaped and crafted by hand to create soles and platforms. This carpentry process was an essential part of the project, driven by the intention to incorporate biodegradable materials. The collection maintains an avant-garde and innovative style while exploring the intersection of traditional craftsmanship and sustainable design.
Amazonas
The shoes are conceptually driven by the contrast between the structured, snow-covered landscapes of the Austrian Alps and the organic forms of the Amazon. The white surfaces evoke snow enveloping the upper, creating an analogy to alpine mountains, while the irregular wooden platforms are inspired by the natural structures and fluidity of the Amazon.
Men Shoes - Ice - Black - Crash 2013