Melissa + Zaha Hadid Collaboration

[Hanne]

from stylepark.com by Sandra Hofmeister

We have long been aware that everything to do with Zaha Hadidein is focussed on the future. When all is said and done, the bold curves, the concrete caprices are a great deal more than functional buildings with attitude: they are a testament to a view of life that looks unerringly forwards, that derives from dynamism rather than consolidation. It is therefore entirely consistent with this, that Zaha Hadid Architects not only design museums, factories, railway terminals and fire stations, but also design flower vases, cutlery and sofas. Whether or not these everyday objects are always entirely practical remains an open question, but this seems almost irrelevant in the face of the powerful impression of the overall corpus. These are visionary pieces. They embody a world-view. There is nothing routine, no lack of passion here.

One of Zaha Hadid's most recent design coups has discovered a whole new field of operation - the fashion world. Of course, fashion has always been an issue, though not the short-term expression of a particular season. The architects, who are based in London, have recently created some shimmering, shiny seamless sandals in plastic and, as one would expect, they display an exceptional dynamism.

The shoe visibly embodies a design-approach which has its origins in the design of buildings; it coils around the ankle and winds upwards from the curved wedge heel towards the knee. These sandals are footwear designed for tomorrow, manufactured in a moulding process as if of self-compacting concrete. To wear these shoes is to rise from the earth; they are watertight, recyclable and future-ready. Zaha's shoes might perhaps make you feel as though you were taking part of a science-fiction film. But that is just a feeling. We should have loved to have tried a pair, to show that Zaha's shoes, too, are not just rubber galoches with attitude.

Alas, that test must wait, as the sandals are not yet commercially available. They have been developed for Brazilian shoe manufacturers, Melissa, who specialise in the use of plastic and who have now included Zaha's shoes in their range, alongside flip-flops by Gisele Bündchen and designs by Vivienne Westwood and the Campana brothers. They will appear as a limited edition in a total of eight colours. They are expected to cost € 200 per pair, and will soon be available in Dover Street Market in London. It is still not certain how many copies there will be in all ...

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stylepark.com

Zaha Hadid Photo by Steve Double.jpg
photo by Steve Double

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tH__AUxugvo

[j_bot]

I want the purple ones SO BAD! I've always thought the Melissa stuff was cute, but never enough to get off my butt and buy a pair. I will buy these, they're absolutely gorgeous.

[Bespoke Style]

wow!!! any pics of them on the feet??

[Meg]

I adore Zaha Hadid's work but I can't decide how these are until I see them on the foot...

[masquerade]

Originally Posted by Bespoke Style

wow!!! any pics of them on the feet??

I second this. They look really really cool, but I can't picture what they would look like on feet.

[lemeray]

Zaha Hadid has lost it...

[ellesea]

holy cow, those are AMAAAAZZZZINNNG!!! not sure if i would be brave enough to wear them (well, maybe on a weekend NOT at work) but i would definitely think about putting them up for display in my house. those are a work of art!

[harlen]

Those are breathtaking! Not to say that these are wearable or practical or anything of that sort...they're just unique and amazingly sculptural!

[leyla m.]

i have to say those are better than the westwood collab

[retrounagi]

Are those beauty available now? Where can I get a pair..?

[arlekindearrabal]

zaha's done it again... these are just

[Legyviel]

meh. can't imagine them being comfortable OR looking good on the foot.

[miss_j]

these are on sale! but I can't find any images of ANYONE's feet in them!! I'm really curious..... if anyone has photos of anyone wearing the zaha shoes PLEASE post them!!

[miss_j]

very expensive though, at AUD$365

[GasolineRainbow]

I adore these shoes, and were it not for the price, I would definitely buy and wear them. I get why some don't like them; they are a very acquired taste. Aside from that though, the shoes do look comfortable to me, similar to those old Nike "heels" that I wasn't particularly fond of, but felt amazing when I tried them on. I'm also familiar with Melissa shoes, which are surprisingly always comfortable, not sweaty, tiring, or blistery.

I can see how the inwards curving heel might throw some people off, and make the shoes seem difficult to wear, but Hadid is an architect, and making improbable designs actually functional is a big part of her livelihood and success.