Aluminum Platform Shoe
I first rough cut aluminum sheets using a plasma cutter, and finished the edges with a grinding wheel and file. I then hot worked these sheets into an outsole and heel post, using an acetalyne torch, a large hammer, and a work bench:
I next glued an assembly of wooden blocks, and rough cut them to fit on top of the outsole. This wood would form the mid-sole. After the state portrayed in the below image, I used a sanding wheel to more delicately form a foot shape and round all corners in an organic way.
I next designed, cut and sewed a denim upper to fit around the mid sole. I first made a canvas prototype of the upper, to check the fit, and finally designed a more precise denim version, with a rib-knit stretch are for slipping the shoes on and off ones feet.
Finally, I glued and stapled the denim upper to the wooden mid-sole, and screwed the wooden mid sole to the aluminum outsole (which a friend helped me to weld together). I carved and painted small pieces of wood as accent pieces for the front, and further bostered their interface to the shoe by grounding them to the mid-sole using decking screws.
The final shoe was, although uncomfortably so, walkable. This project served its purpose to educate my mind on the very basics of shoe design, using materials I had already in-hand.