Walk of Mind: Revolutionizing Shoe Design with Hybrid Fabrication

Designer Hadar Slassi Merges Modern Technology and Traditional Craftsmanship

The design concept of Walk of Mind is rooted in the innovative shoe layering strata compound method, which retraces the known base hierarchy of function and shape in shoe layers. This method bridges the gap between modern digital technology and old-world craftsmanship, combining additive manufacturing 3D printed SLS mold of natural web cracked earth patterns with traditional wet molding vesicle forms. The shoe's structure strength is acquired by all five stratas compound together, creating a geometric lock enhanced by hand sewing.

Walk of Mind's design process begins with personal customization using a digital scan of a specific foot. This ensures that the shoes are not only aesthetically pleasing but also comfortable and perfectly fitted to the wearer. The design is a compound of five stratas, three of which are designed on Rhino software and Grasshopper code and printed in the SLS technique using nylon 12 polymer. These stratas are then combined with non-printed stratas, wet molded, vegetable-tanned leather pieces.

The project is a testament to Slassi's commitment to sustainability. The shoes are light yet durable due to the skeleton they consist of and the leather compounding method. 3D printing allows the use of only the material needed with almost zero waste. The compounding method reduces the use of leather by 80%, first by using 3D printed stratas that form the skeleton of the shoe, and second, by using small pieces of leather that enable wider usage of the same raw material sheet of leather.

Walk of Mind was created between December 2018 and June 2019, as part of Slassi's final project for her BA studies at Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design at the Jewelry and Fashion Department in Israel. The project was inspired by Slassi's early research on shoes and feet in Judaism, and her desire to design shoes that have a natural bond to the feet and the ground.

Despite the challenges faced during the design process, including the need for detailed planning from the beginning and considering all aspects of binding all the stratas together, Slassi was able to successfully create a design that is not only innovative but also sustainable and customizable. Walk of Mind is a testament to the power of merging modern technology with traditional craftsmanship, and a shining example of the future of shoe design.