Utopia
Category: Footwear
Competitions: International, China Mainland
This project reimagines the concept of Utopia through the lens of conceptual footwear design. For designer Bingqing Yi, utopia is not a fixed ideal but a personal, ever-shifting dreamscape-fluid, transformative, and open to reinterpretation. Inspired by Naoshima, Japan, a place where contemporary art and architecture converge, this design explores how footwear can become a wearable metaphor for evolving personal narratives. At the heart of the work is a detachable heel structure, a technical and symbolic innovation that allows the wearer to adapt the form of the shoe to different moments, moods, or environments. This modularity reflects the idea that utopia is not singular or permanent,it is something one can shape, shift, and share. The ability to alter the shoe’s structure also emphasises functionality and emotional expression, reinforcing footwear as a space of both utility and identity. In response to the competition theme Leather: Different, this project explores unconventional material pairings. The upper is crafted from traditional cow leather, chosen for its familiarity, comfort, and durability. The heel, by contrast, is made from Corian, a material more commonly found in architectural applications. This juxtaposition challenges conventional uses of leather, positioning it within a hybrid object that blurs the boundaries between craft, design, and sculpture. This shoe is not just about walking, it is about imagining. It invites wearers to engage in the act of creative self-definition, one step at a time.
