Weronika Lesniak’s final (collection 2009) is themed ‘War of the Banks’ and explores the protective qualities of a formal menswear. Research into modern financial institutions identified them as direct inheritors of the feudal system, the new ‘Knights in Shining Armor’.
The four animals used on the shoes (the Horse, Eagle, Griffin and Deer) are references to the UK banks’; original heraldry. By juxtaposing patterns and referencing surface decoration, the pieces draw parallels between formal footwear and medieval armor. Traditional shoemaking and intaglio techniques were employed alongside cutting edge laser to create pieces of timeless elegance.
