The Art Of The Sneaker

Discover the Paul Smith sneaker collection, reinterpreted, reimagined and reframed through the eyes of a few of Britain’s up-and-coming artists.

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The White Stax: Tallulah Jones

Why did you become an artist?

“It was the only thing I was ever interested in at school. I found the academics hard and didn’t suit a school system of exams. It didn’t engage me. I threw myself into Art generally focussing on photography, styling, sketching and textiles as this really interested me it felt natural. I’m very visual.” 

How would you describe your artistic style?

“It’s almost childlike, happy, bright and colourful with a sense of freedom and humour. I think it represents my character. I get lots of ideas and I then create and work in a quick fast paced way.”

What inspired your concept for Paul Smith?

“I wanted to engage with the Paul Smith stripe colours and it moved on from there. I know Paul Smith has collections of art and I wanted to pull this through the idea too with a fun colourful burst.”

 Describe the process of creating the piece? What was your favourite part?

“I use a variety of materials photography, paints, crayons, pens, pencils and I photograph, scribble, sketch, scan and repeat until I am happy that the image feels complete.”

What do you want people to think, feel and experience when they see your work?

“I hope people will see my work with humour and happiness and shoeing a unique style – they are pieces of layered medium which hopefully people can engage with the depth and colour.”

The Fermi: Sophie Stalder & Hannah Coen

Why did you become artists?

“We have always expressed ourselves visually which naturally drove us to be curious and playful in our artistic approach. We both became really interested in digital art and started collaborating and combining our skills over two years ago. 3D Design also allows us to push the boundaries of the physical and bring our imagination to life, which is incredibly fulfilling.”

How would you describe your artistic styles?

“As we have similar taste, our styles complement each other. We both take inspiration from fashion, art, and architecture which means that our outcomes merge different concepts. Our work is often inspired by the interplay between form and function in fashion, as well as the use of shape, colour, and texture in art and architecture.”

What inspired your concept for Paul Smith?

“We really inspected what the brand represented to us. We wanted to incorporate the elegance of Paul Smith without undermining its playful aspect. That is why we used the coloured stripes as our focal point. The signature use of vibrant colours, bold shapes, and unexpected details is what inspired us the most.”

Describe the process of creating the piece? What was your favourite part?

“We started by using photogrammetry to capture over 150 photos that allowed us to transform our shoe into a 3D object. We created a digital environment surrounding the shoe and integrated a silk material as an embodiment of Paul Smith’s brand identity. Our favourite part was digitalizing the shoe, as it later allowed us to experiment with the environments, we imagined for it.”

What do you want people to think, feel and experience when they see your work?

“We want people to feel soothed and happy and to truly experience the brand through our eyes. By showing different angles, textures and materials, we offer a journey through the versatility of the shoe.”

The Black Stax: Arisa Takada & Jermine Chua

Why did you become artists?

“Storytelling is a big part of what we do, I think we are both fascinated by the worlds and the potential that can be conveyed through a visual experience.”

How would you describe your artistic style?

“We work across a range of disciplines from fashion, art, technology, and design. Our practice is characterised by our sensitivity and curiosity for the world.”

What inspired your concept for Paul Smith?

“We wanted to introduce the playfulness of Paul Smith world into the digital realm. Initially it all started with the notion of a Midas touch; what if with a single touch transformed everything into the Paul Smith rainbow?”

Describe the process of creating the piece? What was your favourite part?

“We were really excited about the idea of working with colours and the Paul Smith Fermi Stripes. We wanted something to create something that spoke to our younger selves, constructing and building a world where we aren’t constricted by reality.”


What do you want people to think, feel and experience when they see your work?

“Our sensitivity to detail and a sense of harmony that we usually feel from being immersed in nature. Every element that we curated, from the delicacy of the dandelion to the glistening of the water surface are the things that we find ourselves drawn to in our everyday lives. We want to re-imagine these experiences for others. If you walk at a fast pace, you can’t reach the sincerity of all the creations in the world.”

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Published: 03.23

Words: Molly Isabella Smith