De/ReCONverse_JMU_SP23_Hand Made & New Tech Footwear Studio

Hand-made custom Birkenstocks using Birkenstock lasts, Arizona templates, buckles, footbeds, and outsoles, and donated or discounted leather.

Decon and Recon (rematerialized)

Converse Chuck Taylors.

Each shoe has it's own story...a true reflection of the diverse take on this project.

New Concept Design / Final Projects

DESIGN BRIEF:

Create a shoe that highlights Global Current Topics.

The design process included literature, market, and patent research, along with selecting artists/designers as precedent.

Ranging from handmade to 3D-designed and printed; we partnered with Gravity Sketch, the Studio Center Shop, and the JMU Makery to bring these projects to life.

Decon and Recon (rematerialized)

Converse Chuck Taylors.

Each shoe design has its own story... a true reflection of the diversity of the student's passions, making adventures, and overall process.

Dmitri Custode; Final

GORE-TEX

Cameron Foster; Final an upcycled converse made from a worn out Orvis rain jacket

Old Jacket Hero Shot

Upcyled Material

JEWELRY CONVERSE

Valentina

Gonzalez; Process

Brushed Corduroy Outer with Cotton Lining

Lasting Board

Patterning

Punching Eyelets

JEWELRY CONVERSE

Valentina Gonzalez; Final WHO SAYS JEWELRY GOES ONLY ON OUR SKIN?

A. B.

C.

Left Lateral View

Back View

R: Side View L: Perspective View

COMIC CON(VERSE)

Matthew Holland; Process

Inspiration of these shoes comes from my love for superheroes

Prototype 1

Lasting Board Perspective View

A.

B.

C.

COMIC CON(VERSE)

Wearing

Converse Patch

Lateral Views

A.

B.

C.

Matthew Holland; Final Marvel (r) & DC Comics (L)

YHLQMDLG CONVERSE

Kevin Baten; Process

Inspiration for YHLQMDLG Converse comes from seeing Latin Music take over the world, which is happening thanks to Bad Bunny, currently the hottest Latino artist.

A.

B.

C. Canvas, DTG printed canvas, embroidery thread, silicone, nylon ribbon

Upper deconstruction

Gluing outsole

YHLQMDLG CONVERSE

Kevin Baten; Final

As a Latino designer, I wanted to bring some of my culture into my design and be able to connect with others using design as a universal language.

C.

Front View

Perspective View

Lateral Views

TRUCK TAYLORS

Helen McDowell; Process

I found this fabric in the clearance section of one of my favorite fabric stores.

Sewing tongue

Embroidering Converse patch

A.

B.

Pattern pieces

C.

TRUCK TAYLORS

Helen McDowell; Final

The perfect whimsical material to recunstruct these ‘Truck’ Taylors!

Medial View

Lateral/Medial View

A.

B.

Medial Views

C.

DUAL CONVERSE

Mckenzie Gallagher; Process

I used two different color canvas fabrics & hand embroiderd the logo.

DUAL CONVERSE

Mckenzie Gallagher; Final

CORDUORY CONVERSE

Michaella Lynch; Process

My inspiration for these shoe came from summer colors and the beach

A

B.

C.

Wearing Shoes

Sewing Upper

Vacuum Sealing

CORDUORY CONVERSE

Michaella Lynch; Process

I have never seen a pair of corduroy Converse and wanted a pair of my own!

B.

Perspective View

C.

Lateral View

Back View

THALASSOPHILE CONVERSE

Rachel Vellutato; Process and Final

My inspiration came from my love for denim fabric in the summertime mixed with a retro vibe

Wearing Shoes

Eyelets

Sewing in Tounge

THALASSOPHILE CONVERSE

Rachel Vellutato; Final

CORDUROY COMFORT CONVERSE

JACK BURROWS; Process

These converse were made using black corduroy, white cotton, red ultra velvet, and integrated foam for a more comfortable fit

A.

B.

C. Pattern Assembly

Sewing

CORDUROY COMFORT CONVERSE

JACK BURROWS; Process

I wanted to make a pair of converse that were simple, good looking, and comfortable

A.

B.

C.

Top View

Medial Views

Back Details

WHALE SHARK SHOES

Lucia Zeimet; Process

Fun, whimsicle pattern, that needed to be on my Chucks!

A.

B.

C. Stitching Initials: R: L and L: Z Stitching laying out pattern

A.

B.

C. Chucks with matching Hat

Back view

Eyestay Deco Stitching

SAVOR

A.

B.

C. Heely in Converse Insterting Heely, prep Heely in the shoe

Embroidery Floss

A.

Lateral Left Back Detials

Hand Embroidery

TRIBAL CONVERSE

Jonathan Patterson ; Process

The fabrics used to make the upper are polyester and duck canvas.

A.

B.

C. Machine Sewing

Vacuum Clamp Table Lasting Board

TRIBAL CONVERSE

Jonathan Patterson; Final

A highlight to native tribal geometery referencing some of the earliest art forms that used shapes to convey or express an emotion and/or story.

A.

B.

C. Logo Patch Hero shot, no box Logo on the Lateral Sides

CHUCK TAYLOR RETRO WINTER

Cole Boffa; Process

Materials: Ducked canvas with beeswax waterproofing, ISA New Gourd leather, thrifted flannel, Aida needlework backing, orange/black 6mm eyelets, black converse outsole, laces, patch

Sewing Pattern

Sewing to Lasting Board

Punching Eyelets

CHUCK TAYLOR RETRO WINTER

Cole Boffa; Final

Goal: To use the materials from traditional workwear brands like Carhartt to make a winter-ready chuck using old school materials.

A.

B.

C. Heel View

Presentation Flannel Interior

AMERICAN TRADI(SHOE)NAL

Nick Loeloff; process

Made with repurposed Chuck outsoles, MPG Alligator Leather and Ecco Pearl White Leather Punched and hand-stitched

A.

B.

C. Inspo + Illustrator Design Layout

Punched Designs (4 sides) and Stiching detail on one of them Punchning Close-up

AMERICAN TRADI(SHOE)NAL

Nick Loeloff; Process and Final

A.

Punchning Close-up

Punchning Close-up

COFFEE CON

Nate Gagnon; process

Coffee dyed duck canvas, green suede and nylon ribbon

Nate Gagnon; Final

C. Perspective View Hero Shot Left Lateral

LEATHER

Matt LaBar; Process p1

A. Laminating, Punching, Hand stitching

D. Lace Stays on Tongue

B. Machine Sewing & Chanel Groove, Eyestay area

C. Hand stitching Lateral & Medial Sides

LEATHER

Matt LaBar; Process p2

A Coffee staining outsoles B. Lasting C.

Gluing Upper to Outsole, mutiple photos

LEATHER CONVERSE

Matt LaBar; Final p1

A. B.

C.

Back View, Hand Stitched Detail

Logo: Laser Etched, Hand Stitched, Snap Rivet

Aglet Detail

Leather Converse, Matt LaBar

LEVIS x CONVERSE

Paloma Prasad; Process

I wanted to make a pair of converse that were inspired by levis jeans.

A.

B.

C. Embroidered Logo Prep for Gluing Sewing to Lasting Board

Paloma Prasad; Final

Chuck Taylor Recap | Promo Images, p1

NVERSE

THALASSOPHILE

Rachel Vellutato, Junior

TRUCK TAYLORS

Helen McDowell, Junior

LEVIS x CONVERSE

Paloma Prasad, Junior

DUAL CONVERSE

Mckenzie Gallagher, Senior

TRIBAL CONVERSE

Jonathan Patterson, Senior

DENIM CONVERSE

Dmitri Custode, Junior

Michaella Lynch, Junior

LEATHER CONVERSE

Matt LaBar, Junior

Kevin Baten, Senior

Chuck Taylor Recap | Promo Images, p2

COMIC CON(VERSE)

Matthew Holland, Junior

SAVOR (Candyland Inspired)

Ky Leach, Junior

JEWELRY CONVERSE

Valentina Gonzalez, Senior

GORE-TEX CONVERSE

Cam Foster, Senior

RETRO WINTER

Cole Boffa, Junior

AMERICAN TRADI(SHOE)NAL

Nick Loeloff, Senior