Elijah up for top shoe design competition

Aspiring shoe designer and Year 2 BA Fashion (Footwear and Accessories) student Elijah Blaine Kinne is celebrating the biggest break of his career after winning a coveted spot in the world famous i-D competition.

Elijah is one of only 10 people in the world shortlisted designers for the i-D Alberton Guariani shoe design competition.

The overall winner's design will be made and sold in the infamous Milan Corso Como store, as well as in Paris and Alberto Guardiani stores worldwide.

Elijah, 20, said:

My lecturer suggested I enter the competition and it really is everything to me. I love expression and love designing. All my designs start with a shape or silhouette that I think will flatter the wearer's body.

 

We all know that sometimes shoes can look great on the shelf but terrible on the foot, so I experiment with ideas such as colour and texture. The last thing I do is constantly change the designs. I don't like to think of them as finished because it helps me to refine them all the time.

Elijah Blaine Kinne

People from over 50 countries across the world entered this competition, which is being judged by world famous shoe experts including i-D Founder and Editor-in-Chief Terry Jones, British shoe designer Georgina Goodman, fashion icon Anna Dello Russo and President of Hong Kong department store Lane Crawford.

Elijah is one of 10 finalists and the final three, who will be announced early February, will be flown out to Milan for Fashion Week.