Sculptures for the Sole - Couture Shoes by Marloes Ten Bhömer (GALLERY)

Dutch designer, Marloes ten Bhomers’ radical shoes beg belief when you see them for the first time. Their highly sculptured lines are far removed from what we think of as shoes. Indeed, some of her designs need a second look just to make sure they are shoes.

“I never let functionality get in the way of exploration,” she says.

So far her critically acclaimed work has only been shown in internationally art galleries and museums.

Her designs stretch our views of form and function as well as the use of innovative materials.  Her shoes are made from industrial strength carbon fibre, the same material used to make race cars and airplanes. Some of her designs employ her innovative “leather mache” technique of laminating leather strips much like the art of paper mache.

She is currently working on translating her works of art into functional footwear - shoes you can actually walk in. When the ready to wear line is out, you can buy it from her online boutique and turn heads whilst walking down the street.