After graduating with her first degree in fashion design, Ying ou plunged headfirst into the world of shoes, completely hooked on this all-consuming passion. She worked as a creative brain accumulating 10 years of experience juggling exceptional design concepts. In 2022, Ying graduated from the London College of Fashion with a master’s degree in shoe design. Her graduation project caused a sensation in the fashion world, being published in magazines such as Schön, Sicky and Marie Claire, and quickly becoming the darling of celebrities and stylists alike. She won the “Prix 2022 Global Footwear Awards” as “overall winner in SPECIAL” and is currently shining at emerging designer shows, teaming up with footwear geniuses, while developing her own footwear brand. Impakt deconstructed her eccentric universe in an exclusive interview about her projects, influences and love affair with fashion.
Interview by : AWA M.SISSOKO
Talent : Ying Ou
Can you present yourself? How this passion for high heel shoes was born?
I am a footwear designer and an artist, born in Foshan, China, presently based in London. My penchant for fashion and art inspired me to get a degree in Fashion Design from the Jiangnan University. I used to aspire to be a womenswear designer, nonetheless, during my final year of study at the university I was offered a job at Belle International, a leading Chinese footwear company. It was here that I discovered my true passion – footwear. Maybe it was all destined.
With eight years in the footwear industry, the epidemic lockdown gave me more time to think, I left everything behind and became a student again. In 2023, I completed my MA in Footwear from the London College of Fashion. Presently, I specialise in fashion concept footwear and am actively involved in the organisation of exhibitions of emerging designers and artists, working with different designers.
My fascination with heels was ignited as a child while learning to dance. One such day standing in front of the mirror, I was mesmerized by the line of my legs standing on the toes. I started tiptoeing a lot, mimicking the way adults walked in high heels, and even putting all kinds of weird and interesting objects under my heels. I use high heels as an object of art, and I often get lost in the world of fabulous lines.
Where do you find the inspiration for your collections?
And can you tell us about the different materials you use?
Anything can bring inspiration, come and be an observer of life! I often find beauty in
places I wouldn’t normally notice, capturing interesting shapes or trying to find new space
to examine from familiar objects. I think that the material is part of the visual communication of footwear, and the theme often dictates my choice of material. Leather is so malleable that I can even modify its “character”.
For example, the rub off leather I used for the AWAKENING collection is usually thick and hard and is often used for casual shoes. In collaboration with the factory, I have used technology to modify the softness and polish of the leather to give it an elegant and spontaneous look. I love metal, it always brings out sophistication and strength and can produce complex shapes through 3D technology. Also, the calm and storytelling quality of wood appeals to me, easy to sand, and it is a great material not only for the process but also for the final product.
What messages do you want to convey through your art and where can we have access to your works ?
I use footwear as a vehicle to explore the human body, form, and emotional communication. Through the language of design, presenting interesting forms and interrogate spaces in creative ways, speak to the heart, and keep walking toward your true self. Different people understand objects differently – how I experience the world and how you experience the world. And what I want to do is to use the visual language of footwear to allegorize a way of intimacy and for people to feel it.
We can see the difference in style in each of your collections, could you tell us more about the importance of eclectic art ?
That’s a good question! Usually, my works are not specific to a particular style, they depend upon my personal feelings and the design language. Nevertheless, exploring unusual forms of footwear and emotional needs is a constant theme of my work. To me, eclectic art implies a deep sense of individuality and freedom, not bound by traditional forms and styles, rather more about the ‘people’. I have been always concerned with the psychological changes of people in the post-epidemic era, what role can art play when people are brought into an unknown environment ? Perhaps we need a
bold art model that departs from the traditional rational concept of art, it could help us to present different identities and escape.
Among your collections, if you had to choose the one that suits you the most, which one would it be and why?
It would be difficult for me to choose just one pair, I love them all! But the best for me at this stage would be the ankle boots called ‘Twist’ from the “AWAKENING” collection. The metal on the outside of the shoe may look sharp, but the shape and construction of the shoe render it a certain sensibility and restraint. These shoes represent my current state of mind very well. The production of these shoes has been very challenging and took more time and revisions than the other shoes. Nonetheless, I love the process of trying to get a little bit closer to perfection.
In your career, what is the most enriching experience you have had, the one that has taught you the most about your work?
Perhaps, my first year in the shoe industry. At that time, I had learned the craft of shoemaking and pattern making from several shoemakers, and went to a shoe factory to experience the different positions on the assembly line. It was really rewarding! I learned to respect every craftsman and his craft of footwear. In my opinion, technology is taking over several fields, but in the footwear industry, there are numerous traditional processes that persist. I believe it is the responsibility of shoe designers and artists to make young people understand the charm of traditional craftsmanship and to use creativity to give it a new lease of life.
What advice would you give to the artists of tomorrow?
