Reflections after meeting
Today was the first time I was able to meet Chantelle and the whole team driving the Shoes Have Names project. It was definitely a humbling experience hearing everyone’s stories and finally making a face to face connection.
Reading Chantelle’s story one thing I noticed is how she kept comparing Shelter’s work with comfort and warmth, contrasted with how she described the Council as making her feel like “a number or an animal.”
Upon meeting her today, I realize that she too is a beacon of warmth. She has such a strong and friendly heart which really evident today. She was an open book willing to share even the toughest experiences. What I didn’t realise is that Chantelle is actually still fighting homeless; it is a constant and exhausting battle.
When I asked what she wanted represented in the Chantelle Shoe, she immediately said she wanted something strong and resilient. In contrast to this, she also wanted to represent her own femininity and show how she had to change and become an even stronger woman and mother as a result of homelessness.
My first design thoughts are immediately drawn to using contrasting materials such as cold steel and vulnerable fur. It would be nice to use recycled metal scraps and maybe something that is more sustainable than fur.
Daniel Charkow