The Virtual Shoe Museum Kicks Butt

Above: "High" by Bart Hess

Shoes have long been the subject of fetishes, books, art and tradition. From henna tattooed feet to bound feet to shoe designers like Christian Louboutin and Jimmy Choo, footwear is of interest to both shopaholics and penny pinchers. Whether you have a closet full of $500 shoes or just one pair of Birkenstocks, shoes are worn by just about everyone.

That's what makes Liza Snook's Virtual Shoe Museum such a delight to peruse. Initiated in 2004, she began a long search began for designers, photographers and publishers connected to shoes. Soon, her mailbox was filled with loads of material on fantastic shoes, art and design on shoes.

Then, with the help of Taco Zwaanswijk of Interactive Affairs, who designed the site, and Bart van der Ploeg of Resolume, who programmed the database and created the content management system, they've created a site you should check out.

Searchable by everything from the designer's name to the focus, use or style, the site is filled with imaginative and beautiful designs. Even sculpture. Be sure to look at the 'extreme' section.

Below are a few of my favorites:


Above: Landscapes shoes 2 by Jared Steffensen


Above: Leg by Judith Wiersema size: 110 cm (height)
The original is made out of wood. Leg is limited to seven (7/7) exclusive reproduction/copies. All seven reproductions are made in aluminium or bronze: white, black, gold.



Above: Off the hooks. 2004 by Alexander Fielden (photo by christian fielden) Material: latex, leather, aluminium and steel.



Above: Michael Brown's Dildo Shoe

In the artist's words

"This Dildo shoe is a womens shoe, based on a ballet last, hand made. The inspiration for the shoe, is the sex industry, and sex toys. As you can see, from the heel, it is based on of course a dildo, or anal toy. It was inspired also from the late 2007 trend of 'fetish'.

The straps upon the forefoot, are made from black patent leather, and egg shell finish cream. to create a stunning contrast. The spikes are in two lengths, and can be interchanged, with just screwing them off and changing them.
The selfmade heel is in high quality resin. So if need be... the heel can be used..."

Above: Eelko Moorer's D.I.Y. Overshoe Comes with frame, instruction sheet and a sticker sheet.

Many more to see! Visit the Virutal Shoe Museum by clicking here.

Levi's Project 501: Project Runway Inspires the Public

Fans of Project Runway will recognize this design challenge set forth by Levis as the one that took place on this season's Episode 9 titled "Even Designers Get the Blues".


Above: Levi's SVP of Design Caroline Calvin explained the challenge to the designers as Tim Gunn looked on.

The challenge? To create an iconic denim look that captures the spirit of the Levi's 501 legacy. In addition to the Project Runway episode, the challenge was opened up to the public via the web.

Although the deadline for submissions has passed, you can still vote on the entrants which also automatically enters you into the sweepstakes to win a Levi's 501 gift certificate. The top 20 submissions will be announced on February 21st. Then they go into another final selection before choosing the winning entry. The winner actually gets his or her design produced and sold on levis.com

The final pieces designed by the then remaining 7 challengers on Project Runway:


..and the winning design shown above right.

So, how's the public doing?

Below are just a tiny sampling of the many entries. It's clear that there's no lack of talent out there. There are literally hundreds of these beautifully rendered, wonderfully- if not interestingly- designed entries. I'm showing a mere fraction of them here.

Sure, there are some crude drawings with brilliant ideas and some sophisticated drawings of horrendous designs. But I just wanted to give you a small example of the many talented people that are participating. Forgive me for not crediting the following drawing/renderings. Please go to the website to see who is behind these and the hundreds more.











Go see them all for yourself. And vote!

Revelation: The Culmination of Karim Rashid, Baccarat & Garrard

LAUNCH OF $1,000,000 COLLECTION OF FIVE LUXURY SPIRITS BOTTLES

In an extraordinary travel retail launch, Bombay Sapphire is to unveil Revelation - five handmade crystal bottles individually decorated with diamonds and sapphires, and priced at $200,000 USD each.

Bombay Sapphire, owned by Bacardi, is the fastest-growing gin in the world. Three leading names in luxury and design – Baccarat, Garrard and Karim Rashid – have joined forces with the brand to create its new luxury project.


Above: The launch at London jeweler Garrard's.

Bombay Sapphire unveiled Revelation, the first of a five piece collection of handmade crystal bottles individually decorated with sapphires and diamonds. Inspired by Bombay Sapphire, three leading names in luxury and design - Garrard, Baccarat and Karim Rashid – collaborated to create the Revelation crystal bottles, priced at US$200,000 each.



Revelation was launched at Garrard in Mayfair, London, where to celebrate the event one lucky guest walked away with the ultimate Bombay Sapphire accessory, a stunning sapphire necklace.


Above: designer Karim Rashid

Created by one of the hottest designers in the world today, Karim Rashid, each of the five Revelation bottles has been handcrafted in France by Baccarat, the pre-eminent creator of the world’s finest luxury crystal. The bottle has been cut into the shape of a giant gemstone with 10 principal facets, representing the 10 botanical ingredients used to create the complex and refined taste of Bombay Sapphire. Each Revelation bottle is truly unique with its own individually designed stopper decorated with sapphires and diamonds set by the oldest jewellery house in the world, Garrard.




The limited edition Revelation bottles will be launched at five major international airport locations – starting with London Heathrow Airport (via World Duty Free) around 27 March to coincide with the opening of the new Terminal 5 and subsequently New York JFK Terminal 4 (DFS Group), Dubai International (Dubai Duty Free), Singapore Changi (DFS Group) and Sydney (The Nuance Group).


Above: Artist rendering of the airport display of Revelation at London Heathrow Airport's new terminal 5

One Revelation bottle will be exhibited at each of the five international airports for two to three months before being securely transported to its new owner anywhere in the world

Above: Artists' rendering of the Nuance Group's display at the Sydney Airport In Australia.


Recognized around the world for its striking translucent blue bottle, Bombay Sapphire has showcased the world’s finest glass creations for the last 20 years. The Bombay Sapphire Prize is the world’s biggest annual glass award and the Bombay Sapphire Designer Glass Competition is one of the top design contests for emerging designers.



Profits from Revelation will benefit the travel retail industry’s chosen charity, The Smile Train, which provides life-enhancing cleft surgery to children in poor countries.