Skip to main content
WORTH Partnership Project
Project

SERISOLE

100% natural designer shoe

SERISOLE

The project

Serisole is inspired by the Espadrille wearing Basque people from the Atlantic coast of France and Spain. Inexpensive and practical the espadrille has been a mainstay for centuries, dating back to its primitive form, crafted from plant fibre some 4000 years ago. Humble in its raw simplicity yet highly biodegradable, this was the starting point for Serisole. Could we capture and refine the simplicity of the espadrille, using only three plant based materials? Whilst at the same time creating a product that is genuinely useful for a 21st century citizen, yet respectful and mindful of our world and its resources.

Storytelling

THE IDEA:

Through teaching footwear design over the past few years I’ve witnessed the transition in the importance of sustainable manufacturing. Having marked countless student projects on sustainable manufacturing I had a bit of a eureka moment where I sort of thought. “I should probably be doing this myself”.

SERISOLE - image 1
THE BIRTH OF THE PROJECT:

For me the best analogy for sustainable footwear production is smoking. There was a time when athletes used to endorse and help market cigarettes. Today this idea seems ludicrous. In the future we will look back in disbelief and ask ourselves: “Why did our ancestors create so many expendable consumer goods made with toxic materials throwing them so carelessly in to landfill at their end of life”. It’s obvious we should think more carefully about the things we make and what they’re made from. This was the birth of Serisole; made from natural, renewable and biodegradable materials.

SERISOLE - image 2
THE CREATIVE PROCESS:

One of the hardest things when working with natural materials is merging them with footwear manufacturing processes. Often they don’t go hand in hand. Try telling the owner of a 3rd generation shoemaking factory that he shouldn’t be making shoes the way he has for the last twenty years, without plastic. It’s not easy!

SERISOLE - image 3
THE COLLABORATION:

On this project collaboration with my partner has been crucial. Collaboration means an extended skill set, suddenly you have access to a whole other realm of expertise, things you wouldn’t normally know how to do are simply a phone call away. The power of two combined experts in achieving a goal is always better than one.

SERISOLE - image 4
THE FUTURE:

At the time of writing this we are in our fourth week of Coronavirus lockdown. It’s unavoidable to mention the effect the virus will have on the world economy. Hopefully this is a time for change where people will consume less and buy better. We’re a company making a singular product from natural materials, a wardrobe staple as opposed to seasonal throw away. In this sentiment we think Serisole has a place in the future.

THE MESSAGE:

When you bring experts together from different fields this can be really fruitful. Although there’s no point in having two experts from exactly the same field working together, it’s when you cross breed expertise that new things can happen. It’s inspiring to be around other experts, it’s like opening up a box of brand new tools all at your disposal. 

SERISOLE - image 5
Projects Edition
WORTH Partnership Projects I
Project Call
2nd Call Projects
Project Sector
Footwear
Project Challenge
Circular Economy

Contact

Benjamin Hall

BENJAMIN JOHN HALL highly experienced footwear designer based in London who also works as brand consultant and design lecturer at London’s top fashion universities. His close collaboration with top companies, like Clarks International, among others, underlines his experience in both brand image creation and design for the project.

Name
Benjamin Hall
Postal address
United Kingdom

Maria Moreira

Maria Ferreira Moreira has over 18 years’ experience in sourcing, developing and managing the production of footwear for both large international and smaller companies. She has been working across both men and women’s footwear collections. Her role as a representative of the Pilar Shoes Factory in Portugal is as remarkable as her territorial knowledge on Portuguese footwear industrial districts.

Name
Maria Moreira
Postal address
Portugal