A collaboration we might all take note of is Remix Maison, by Native Shoes Remix™ and multidisciplinary designer Irina Flore. The recycled home collection uses Native Shoes Remix™, Native Shoes proprietary material, and metal to create sculptural furniture from reclaimed and repurposed footwear. The material consists of EVA and rubber, the main components of the brand’s injection-molded footwear. After finishing out their usable life, the shoes are collected, cleaned, and ground to give them a chance at becoming another new product or project.
Functional and contemporary, the bench designs that make up Remix Maison are practical and environmentally conscious, thanks to Native Shoes Remix™. Designed for use in an entryway or other small spaces, they serve multiple purposes: a seat, a tray for small items, a shoe holder, or even coat hanger. Flore’s conceptual drawings were the map for each, giving slightly different functions to each design.
Through the Native Shoes Remix™ recycling process and project, the brand is spreading awareness that reclaimed shoes can be much more than waste in a landfill. By teaming up with designers and manufacturers and using Native Shoes Remix™, Native Shoes will continue to manufacture responsibly and give products another chance at life.
This collaboration makes great sense, as Flore’s practice has a focus on functional art that are in essence everyday objects. All of her pieces tell a story, beginning with extensive research on material, form, and function. The fabrication process is just as important a part as the end result.
To learn more about Remix Maison, visit irinaflore.com.
