Profile: WOOSUNG KIM – Real Leather Design Competitions

WOOSUNG KIM

De Montfort University

Footwear & Accessory Design BFA

Unisex, Boots, Sportswear / Performance shoes

At the time I graduated from high school, I had no awareness of my future passion for design, I was just interested in studying mathematics and architecture. Upon graduating I came to England to study interior design. This changed my life. During my foundation year, I attended fashion and fine art classes. This cemented my interest in footwear as I got to study footwear design. I made the decision to change my major from architecture to footwear design. This is beginning of my story. Right now I am far into my journey of becoming a successful footwear designer. Creating beautiful and well-resolved designs is what drives my devotion to footwear. For the project, the greatest inspiration is the visual morphological elements. I analyzed and applied them to design with my own philosophical story.

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Hybrid project: link the past and future

Category: Footwear

Competitions: UK, International

This project aimed to combine the past and future and create the new footwear design DNA. I chose the western style as past part, nowadays cowboy boots re-entered fashion territory and have recently gained popularity among Gen Z consumer with a renewed interest in all things vintage. And for future part, I selected technical function of the shoes. Combination of old heritage and new technology produced a new outcome. To remain the legacy, I used cowboy boots's appearance and characteristics. Cowboy boots have many interesting elements. Among them, I focused on the shape of boots that cover ankles and harnesses. Besides, I chose modularity to connect past fashion with future technology. As a result, I designed shoes that were transformed into different shapes using parts, although it was one shoe.