When I need a new pair of shoes, I go to a shoe shop. Or if I’m not in a great rush and feel like a month-long back-and-forth exchange of parcels due to stupid sizing variations, I’ll try online. I now realize this is very backwards thinking, and that I should be making my own. Eugenia Morpurgo is leading the way in DIY footwear with her high street micro-factory project Don’t run – Beta. Find the pop-up, pick the leather for the uppers, choose the rubber for your sole, grab some laces, and let loose on the laser cutting and 3D printing machines before assembling the shoes yourself. Alternatively, if you’re quite attached to your existing shoes but they need a few running repairs or just sprucing up a bit, simply design some decals and get patching.
Examples of Eugenia’s handiwork are one of the attractions at Droog Gallery, Amsterdam, which is hosting the construct – de – construct exhibition encouraging us to take a different approach to everyday objects. Think and re-think is the mantra. For example, the Mushroom Farmkit from Terrabites uses spent coffee grounds as a grow bed – in this case they come from the Droog café and once ready to harvest they are used in the café’s dishes. London designer Cindy Strobach has developed a novel way to jazz up boring old white electrical appliances using an electric printing technique and red cabbage juice. Other participants include Lernert & Sander, Nick Brennan, Dian Simpson & Sudha Kheterpal, and Jessica Fügler. The Amsterdam gallery – part of Hôtel Droog – is hosting construct – de – construct until 31 August.
@droogamsterdam
@Terra_Bites
@cindystrobach
