Award-winning conceptual shoe collection is designed by traditional methods, but creates deviant, abstract forms.

Now on display at the Shoe Galleries at Selfridges London, Pernilla is a conceptual shoe collection that is part footwear, part sculpture. The series of eight unusual silhouettes are crafted by traditional shoe making methods.

Designed by the Swiss-born, London-based fashion artist, Cat Potter, the designs are inspired by the wooden sculptures of Australian artist, Ricky Swallow.

A statement from Selfridges describes how:

The collection draws inspiration from the idea of continuous lines, which transpires as the heel of the shoes appearing to become part of the upper – evolving up and around the foot as twisted sculptural sections and straps.

In collaboration with the Edinburgh-based 3D product design agency, DotSan, the collection was first drafted by computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing (CadCam) and then formed through a labor intensive process using 3-axis milling machines.  Potter brought the 2D designs to DotSan, who then crafted the shoes into their 3D forms.

Made from walnut, sapele and pear woods, the shoes are familiarly foot-shaped on the inside, but are unexpected, abstract shackle-like forms on the outside.  To don the bewitching shoes, slip your foot inside and clamp the metal hinge behind your heel.

Potter’s collection has won the Jimmy Choo MA Final Collection Award of Excellence 2012 from Choo’s alma mater, Cordwainers at the London College of Fashion.  The Selfridges exhibit is accompanied by original sketches and further insight into the collection’s inspiration.

Click through the gallery to take a closer look at the captivating collection:

Rumor is, Potter’s got her hands on a 3D printer. We’re looking forward to seeing what she comes up with next.

Cat Potter

Image via Alejandro Cavallo