Geology of Shoes

I’ve often wondered what would happen if we peeked behind the curtain at the objects we consume daily – if we shadowed the chef of our favorite restaurants, if we were a fly on the wall in the factories of our favorite clothing brands. Would we turn away in disgust at the working conditions and unethical materials or would we embrace their mission even more, clinging to the good we witnessed?

And after watching the video below of the process behind cobbler and shoe designer Barbora Veselá, I’m in the latter camp. In fact, I’m having a hard time justifying the purchase of any shoe but her newest collection: The Geology of Shoes.

Barbora’s collection reuses leather leftovers to create patterned shoes inspired by topography – layers of materials are sanded down to mimic eroded rocks, geological maps and naturally-made landmarks. “[I take] inspiration from sediment layers and from effects of erosive processes in nature as well as from traditional shoe-making techniques,” Barbora writes.

Even the color scheme has been directly inspired by old geological maps, a perfect palette of faded hues and neutral pastels.

It’s an inspired concept when you think deeply about the true, utilitarian purpose of shoes – to explore. To walk and roam and find the corners of the world our hearts gravitate toward. To not only mark our path, but to create it.

Barbora has created hers, no doubt. And I can’t wait to watch where it takes her.

Image Credits: Petr Krejčí for Barbora Veselá

p.s. When maps become art.