Shoes Have Names

• Lead Designer
  Jo Cope
• Design Team
  Jackie Leggett, Ellen Sampson, Liz Ciokajlo, Tabitha Ringwood, Jana Zornik, Caroline Groves, Kobi Levi, Daniel Charkow, Elisabeth Thorsen, Kris Walsh
• Manufacturer
  Bespoke Made By Each Designer
• Client
  Shelter Charity
• Photo credit
  Dan Lowe
• Prize
  Winner in SOCIAL IMPACT
• Expertise
  Independent

Homeless charity Shelter joined forces with shoemaker and artist Jo Cope for a collaboration inspired by the personal experiences of people facing life on the streets.
Ten shoemakers and designers were each paired with a person that Shelter has helped through its frontline services.

This is a collection of handmade shoe artworks inspired by the personal experiences of real people facing homelessness. These shoes have become a touring exhibition which will next be on show at YKK London Showroom for Fashion Week in February 2024

Each shoe represents the individuals positive steps forwards.

Bio
Jo Cope has carved out a niche for herself focused on our cultural relationship with shoes. She works with adapted traditional shoemaking techniques to create contemporary sculptural artworks inhabiting a world between design and art practice.

Her educational background includes a Masters with distinction in Fashion Artefacts from the London College of Fashion.

Cope explores fashion’s wider role in art and society, including that of a tool for social activism. In 2021, she worked with the Graduate Fashion Foundation and Shelter Charity to set up the first ‘Fashion for Social Change’ Award.

Other prizes
IFFTI Fashion Film Winner 2006