SJ lifestyle shoes x SONS sneaker design contest: 5 winners!

This sneaker design contest ran from september to november 2024. A huge thank you to all the creative talents who participated!
On December 10 2024, with 14 jury members, we selected from over 100 submissions the 5 winning designs, congratulations to:

Adèle Dendaletche
Blurring the line between clothing and footwear, this hybrid sneaker draws inspiration from shirt detailing to create unique volumes and aesthetics. Made with organic or recycled cotton and reinforced with leather, it merges comfort with sustainability and style.

Jente Claes
This shoe features a striking silver puffer-jacket material upper paired with a contrasting black rubber sole, combining sleek urban aesthetics with bold texture. It’s a stylish statement piece that blends practicality with a futuristic edge.

Milan Declerck
Designed with sustainability in mind, this sneaker repurposes sleeping bags and tents abandoned at festivals into a fashionable and functional upper. It’s a creative response to waste, turning leftovers into a bold and meaningful style statement.

Lieven Lamote
Inspired by the shared mythology of East and West, this sneaker incorporates elements of the dragon—a symbol of power, prosperity, and longevity. The design reflects a harmonious blend of Eurasian influences, paying homage to its rich cultural significance.

Zoe Rahman
Crafted from recycled denim, this shoe redefines the denim industry’s impact by giving the fabric a vibrant second life. With bold airbrushed green and pink hues creating a graffiti-like effect, it celebrates urban energy, sustainability, and creative streetwear.

What do the five finalists win?
The opportunity to bring their sneaker design to life during two exclusive workshops with our team.
An inspiring trip to our offices in China, including a visit to Hong Kong.
Online visibility and a spot in the prestigious Shoes Or No Shoes museum in Belgium.

But that’s not all…
In July 2025, one ultimate winner will be chosen through a public vote. The winner’s design will be transformed into a limited-edition production of 200 pairs of sneakers!

Stay tuned!
Keep an eye on SJ Lifestyle Shoes and Shoes Or No Shoes to discover the prototypes and help us choose the final winner!

Jury members:
Piet Van Coillie – Researcher Museum Eperon d’Or (B)
Anne Poesen – Shoe designer & teacher Shoe designer at SASK Shoe Design Sint-Niklaas (B)
Liza Snook – Founder VirtualShoeMuseum.com, expert in shoe exhibitions in art and design worldwide (NL)
Inge Specht – Expert in leather, shoe design and -history, owner valuation and consultancy firm Waardevol d’Ing (NL)
Veerle Windels – Fashion journalist and expert (B)
Eva Van Driessche – Creative Director Roularta (B)
Sarah Roelstraete – Producer and stylist for fashion magazines and labels (B)
Myra Nurski – Managing Director MMBSY (B)
Carl Cash – Content creator and SJ-ambassador (B)
Stien Edlund – Entrepreneur, Content creator and SJ-ambassador (B)
Kim Braeckman – Member of the Board of Directors SJ/Cortina (B)
Pieter Uytterschaut – Research & Development Director SJ/Cortina (B)
Vanessa Van Damme – Head of Commercial Design SJ (B)