December 16, 2024 |
With sculptural ripples like the capillary waves of water, the Feng Chen Wang Huapen Soles, crafted to slip onto the Ugg Tasman shoe, are the missing link between heritage and innovation. Stepping out onto the runway at the London-based, Chinese designer’s SS25 show, these subversive slip-ons are inspired by the traditional wooden platform shoes which were worn during the Qing dynasty, flower pots and by the accidental imperfections in traditional Chinese porcelain firing. These themes, Wang says, “hold emotional and nostalgic value for me. This season, I explored the delicate strength within porcelain culture through various forms.” She continues, “The Ugg Tasmans, with their flowerpot-inspired sole, are a key piece in the collection. They pay tribute to traditional porcelain and, through 3D printing, add a modern structural edge. The sculptural form of the sole echoes architectural lines in the collection, while the soft colours of the shoe’s surface reflect the unique charm of porcelain.”
For Wang, creating the cracked, made-to-order kicks was an explorative process. “We customised the shoe’s surface with porcelain crackle texture, borrowing the soft colours of Chinese porcelain, which is delicate yet powerful. This texture adds depth and gives the shoe a unique cultural significance,” she says. “The entire creation process is a tribute to traditional craftsmanship, achieved through modern techniques to make it both wearable and visually artistic.”
Coming in clay brown, creme and obsidian black, the idea for the 3D printed, 100 per cent polyurethane sole was sparked by experimenting with the form of a Chinese flower pot. “I recall adjusting the proportions numerous times during the early modelling phase to achieve perfection. The entire process felt like sculpting an artwork, drawing inspiration from the flower pot’s form and combining 3D modelling and printing technology to faithfully render the elegant curves of the traditional design.”
A blend of modern and traditional influences, Wang sought to preserve the “three-dimensional beauty of traditional objects”, whilst infusing them with modern design techniques and the necessary functionality. “For me, design is a language that connects the past with the future. Growing up, Chinese culture deeply influenced my life, and as a designer, I have always sought to create pieces that link past and future,” says Wang, adding, “I drew inspiration from Chinese porcelain culture, blending traditional symbols with modern design techniques. For example, the flower pot sole is realised through 3D printing, allowing for greater freedom of expression while enhancing practicality. The crackle texture details maintain the classic elements of porcelain, making each shoe feel like a unique piece of art. I believe the key to this fusion lies in understanding the culture and investing in the details, allowing tradition and modernity to naturally coexist in one piece… The inspiration behind these shoes comes from my deep love for Chinese traditional objects and porcelain culture. These iconic items not only serve practical purposes in daily life but also embody cultural symbols of home and ritual. I aimed to reinterpret these elements through modern design, presenting their unique charm in a contemporary way.”
Discover the Feng Chan Wang SS25 collection here.
Photography courtesy of Feng Chen Wang.
