Vivian Ivanishvili

I’ve always been fascinated with the relationship between footwear, self-expression, and cultural associations surrounding femininity. I remember sneaking into my mother’s closet as a child to examine her carefully crafted collection of pumps and stilettos, cautiously running my fingers over the beautiful fabrics, suedes, and leathers. Although picking out a pair of shoes to wear from day to day may typically come with less excitement or perceived significance in adulthood, our choices of garments often go hand in hand with our relationship to societal expectations. As a child, I was raised with the firm stance that aspiring for respect and professional success necessitated denying stereotypically feminine, fun, and playful ways of presenting myself. I was, however, also fed the contradicting message that straying away from the “traditionally feminine” reflected a deep personal failing and a betrayal of family values. My experience is far from being unique. From the Madonna-Whore dichotomy seamlessly permeating our world to the monetization of beauty and attractiveness, with immense funds poured into industries that saturate us with unattainable ideals and capitalize on our insecurities, it can feel like an impossible task to feel fully at home in presenting as and being a woman. My shoemaking practice represents my search for joy, excitement, and genuine self-expression in a world that operates on the basis of structures that aim to limit and restrict such experiences. I used both out-stitch and lasted shoemaking methods to design and hand make three pairs of shoes that each gives form to a facet of femininity that speaks to me. I also created a deconstructed shoe that showcases the essential steps and materials involved in the lasted shoemaking process.