Part of the final collection ‘Progress in Place’, presenting 3 pairs of shoes, designed and integrated with 5 basalt stones I collected from northern Israel, 2024.
The project questions the symbolic function of the shoe as a tool for moving forward and presents a new interpretation of shoes. The shoes exceed their expected role and challenge the idea that progress is often driven by inertia rather than active intention. The shoes invite mental progression, introspection, and focus on the next step. The basalt stones make walking difficult and provoke thoughts about the meaning of progress — does it mean walking, or alternatively, standing still and contemplati
Inspired by ‘Suiseki,’ a Japanese art form showcasing natural stones displayed on custom wooden bases. This inspired me to integrate stone into my project, adding leather soles that wrap around the stone to create a connection between natural materials and modern shoe design.
Materials: chrome leather, vegetable-tanned sole leather and basalt stones.
© Lior Elbaz.
