THIS IS NOT A SHOE: BELOVED FOOTWEAR TRANSFORMED INTO WEARABLE ART

Paypal Melbourne Fashion Festival 2026 – Independent Programme

What happens to beloved shoes when they reach the end of their wearable life? Building on the research project ‘This is Not a Shoe‘, contemporary jeweller Pennie Jagiello and footwear researcher Dr Alexandra Sherlock invite you to memorialise your most significant footwear through creative transformation.

This exhibition offers a unique opportunity to honour shoes that hold deep personal meaning but can no longer be worn. Discover how careful deconstruction reveals the hidden stories embedded in construction techniques, wear patterns, and material memories. The reconstruction process transforms these precious materials into wearable jewellery and accessories, allowing shoes’ stories to continue in new forms.

Inspired by surrealists René Magritte and Elsa Schiaparelli, this collection of work encourages reflection on our relationships with everyday objects, consumption practices, and the lifecycles of fashion items. With over 22 billion pairs of shoes produced worldwide annually and limited recycling options, the workshop explores creative alternatives to disposal while celebrating the emotional significance of our belongings.

About the artists

Dr Alexandra Sherlock is a sociocultural anthropologist and Fashion Design Lecturer at RMIT University. She founded the Footwear Research Network and researches footwear-identity relationships to advance sustainable production and consumption practices. A fellow of the Australian Anthropological Society and Union of Concerned Researchers in Fashion, she collaborates across industry and academia.

Pennie Jagiello is an artist, researcher, educator and Fashion Design Lecturer at RMIT University. Her creative practice and research is centered around slow, cold-worked sustainable techniques, only working with repurposed materials making contemporary jewellery artefacts to highlight what she defines as wearable errors of the Anthropocene. Her studio gallery is located at The Abbotsford Convent in Narrm.

Public Program

Enjoy a one-off workshop with the artists.

Throughout the day, you’ll share stories and connect with fellow participants over refreshments and lunch in a supportive, creative environment. No prior experience necessary, though sewing skills are helpful. At the day’s end, flat-lay photographs will capture all shoes, their stories, and transformed outcomes, creating a commemorative record shared with the group.

Saturday 21  February
SHG.07

Workshop open to ages 18+ only.
Safety equipment and demonstrations provided.
Participants accept responsibility for their own safety when using sharp tools.

This program is supported by Bared Footwear.