CULTURALITY inspires International collaboration to revalue handmade footwear

Pedro Carvalho de Almeida, a Portuguese designer and professor at the University of Aveiro, has embarked on an exciting collaboration with the Biomimetic Laboratory of Ladines (Sobrescobio) and textile workshop Paz Mesa from Las Regueras. The initiative aims to update and revalue Portugal’s artisan shoe brands by blending traditional craftsmanship with innovative materials and design techniques.

During the collaboration, Carvalho de Almeida created several prototypes of clogs and slippers, working closely with Paz Mesa, who specializes in textiles made from the wool of xalda sheep, a native Asturian breed. This project, developed at the Biomimetic Laboratory led by Marlén López and Manuel Persa, draws on research into new materials made from natural resources and designs inspired by nature. Notably, they contributed a unique material for the shoe soles, crafted from chestnut shells, reinterpreting traditional Portuguese footwear with an eco-friendly twist.
Part of this innovative process is carried out in collaboration with the “Centro Tecnológico do Calçado de Portugal” (CTCP), where new solutions and materials are tested and implemented to ensure practicality and sustainability in modern footwear production.

This collaboration was born out of the network established by the partners of the CULTURALITY project, specifically following the inaugural “Creators & Keepers” exhibition, which focused on the heritage of craftsmanship and its modern applications. The project’s influence has sparked cross-border collaborations, furthering the revival of traditional crafts and connecting artisans, designers, and researchers.

Read the full article published by the Asturias Exterior newspaper at: