First thoughts...

During the Shoes Have Name project designers will be reading accounts and talking to people with experience of facing homelessness. Every person will go through a journey as they explore what homelessness means, its impact and the support needed to come through it. Here are some thoughts of Liz Ciokajlo after talking to Amy-Jo, the person she’s been paired with for the project.

What is home?

A roof over your head/ a shelter is not a 'home'. Home is familiar.

What is home in materials/ objects/ items most important when you lost your home?

Besides people (son, cat and dog) box of photos and my own clean bedlinen and towels. (Memories and familiar smells (and hygiene))

Ritual became important to rebuild your life and 'home'. Wake up a 5:00 am and walk my dog. Then went to McDonolds for a coffee. Gave me time to think (and heal).

Designer's thoughts

A civilised society helps people facing challenges. We help each other in times of need.

How can this project raise awareness through shoes that homelessness can happen to anyone at anytime? It can tear apart families. One's 'home' becomes so important when we are unwell. And we are asking people to heal without their 'home'. Also, how do you maintain pride and dignity through adversity?

Liz Ciokajlo

Shoes Have Names Collaborator

Liz Ciokajilo website

Storm delivers new soles

As a designer maker who works from my workshop at home, getting out is really important so I start most days with a walk round the park at the end of my road.

After some hefty winds recently one of the many beech trees fell. I’m particularly fond of the trees as my clog soles are made from beech wood. I had the thought- wouldn’t it be fitting to make a pair of clogs out of local beech wood, the tree surgeons agreed and saved me some.

Now deciding whether to try using the wood for “Shoes Have Names” on a new sole design question is would it dry out in time or should I stick to my classic sole which is turned on a grading lathe out of pre dried beech.....time to get cutting and experimenting!  

Jackie Leggett

Shoes Have Names collaborator

Instagram

Website

London Craft Week: Shoes Have Names project launches

On Sunday we held out first project community meet at Boutique By Shelter at Coal Drops Yard. It marked the official start to the ‘Shoes Have Names’ project; a collaboration between Jo Cope and Boutique by Shelter for London Craft Week.

The meet brought together some of the amazing designers who will be working on the project with individuals helped by Shelter who have faced homelessness.

Over the coming months and in the lead up to the London Craft Week exhibition, the designers will be interpreting the stories of the individuals they have been paired with resulting in the creation of unique hand crafted shoes /artworks which will represent each individuals story and their positive steps forward.

Some of the wonderful people in the pictures:
@JoCope @jackielovesclogs, @shoe_man_dan, @tabitharingwood, @lizciokajlo, @ShelterKingsCross

Shoes Have Names

Jo Cope and Shelter come together at Boutique by Shelter in a truly unique collaboration at Coal Drops Yard, for London Craft Week 2020.

During the week, this exhibition and retail space celebrates the positive change Shelter has helped make to people struggling with bad housing through their advice and support services. Shoe designers from the UK/ Europe worked with individuals who faced homelessness to understand their story and their future hopes after working with Shelter. The resulting shoes represent the 'positive steps forward' made by individuals and families.

The exhibition aims to raise awareness of the thousands of people tackling evictions, poor housing conditions, landlord issues and homelessness. But Shelter gives hope. With the right support and by working together, people can fight bad housing and make a positive change.

Every shoe tells a story

Each shoe or pair of shoes created by the designers will be named after the person who’s been supported by Shelter. The designers have been asked to create a unique design reflecting the stories of the individuals using the materials they are most comfortable using from their current design specialisms.

Shoes traditionally have names to positively identify their individual styles. To own or put on a special pair of shoes is also symbolic of 'Having somewhere to go', while shoes also offer practical protection comfort as should the home. In contrast, people facing homelessness can lose a sense of personal identity and safety.

This blog will give updates on the designers taking part and progress of the individual projects.

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