MA Fashion Footwear
The main aim of Stephanie Hensleyâs collection is to subvert established modes of thinking both in China and on an international scale through a variety of contrasts. The first was to challenge the long-standing stigma of the term âMade in Chinaâ and what that represents by producing a collection of high quality luxury footwear in the country most widely known for mass-producing cheap, low quality goods. The use of symbolism in colors and imagery is ever present & almost inherently accepted & internalized in China. This collection aims to subvert these traditional symbols by pairing contrasting meanings, almost voiding the symbolsâ essence as a result. The shoes within this collection consist of an embroidered kidskin leather inner shoe, mostly asymmetrical on the foot but symmetrical in pairs. These inner shoes are the encompassed by a âshellâ: a translucent, embroidered outer shoe that stands away from the inner shoe, providing a layer of both protection & obscurity for the shoe underneath. A modernization of a traditional Chinese shoemaking process poetically named the âThousand Layer Soleâ provides texture as well as a bit of shock absorption. The shoes are completed by a transparent heel and platform, further strengthening the theme of transparency or translucence. A VERY SPECIAL THANK YOU TO: Wilson Li Qi Rui R&D Center Zhi Cheng Computer Embroidery, Ltd. De Xing Jia Leather Co., Ltd. Xin Li Co., Ltd. Lei Xin Trade Co., Ltd. Kai Ge Co., Ltd. ABOUT STEPHANIE HENSLEY: Stephanie Hensley is a women's shoe designer with over seven years' experience within the footwear industry, both in the US and China. Stephanie employed her knowledge and connections from the footwear industry & her experiences living in China, compiling this with her time at Cordwainers-London College of Fashion to push her design sensibility to a Master's level, resulting in a finely crafted & highly considered collection. MORE INFORMATION: stephaniehensley.com linkedin.com/in/stephaniehensley coroflot.com/stephaniehensley pinterest.com/jetsteph stylisteph.wordpress.com jetsteph.wordpress.com