Designed for metropolitan Indian consumers, “Something Different” offers breathability, durability, and accessibility. A thoughtful interpretation of how sandals should be made.
For this project, I developed and sourced my own materials. My rubber composite consists of organic RSS rubber native to South Asia. I then mix the RSS rubber with tire re-grind, making my rubber mixture 70 cents cheaper per kilogram than exported rubber from China. This stimulates the Indian economy while diverting a waste stream.
While developing this project, I also made pen pals who helped inform my work. I couldn't fly to India and walk in Pune local Mithiliesh's shoes firsthand, so I wrote to him and studied his route to work on Google Earth. These findings structured the restraints and deliverables of my product.
To foster an even deeper understanding of the components of the ideal shoe, I taped up my foot on a rubber outsole and participated in Mithilesh’s daily routine. This exercise gave crucial insights into what components the sandal needed and could go without.
The sandal has no glue, enabling safer working conditions. The sewn-in webbing and buckle allow for easy customization and repair.
