Melissa Shoes, A pair of sleek red wedges for Melissa is the result of the collaboration between Zaha Hadid Architects and the hot Brazilian plastic shoemaker. Melissa makes eco-friendly shoes that are 100% recyclable, the shoe comes in black, green, yellow, charcoal grey, silver, white and purple color.
© David Grandorge
It took Zaha two years to come up with this design, I’m aware those organic arcs make women feel comfortable but sometimes when architects try to create fashion, products are either deconstructive genius total disasters like this shoe.
© David Grandorge
The positive thing about this design is the Melissa factory itself, which has almost (99%) zero-waste, recycling its factory water and waste, and the employees are well-paid. The company supports many social and environmental programs in Brazil.
Project Info:
Designer: Zaha Hadid Architects
Country: Brazil, Farroupilha
Photographs: David Grandorge, Courtesy Of Zaha Hadid Architects
Project Name: Melissa Shoes
Ibrahim Abdelhady is an architect, academic, and media entrepreneur with over two decades of experience in architecture and digital publishing. He is the Founder and CEO of Arch2O.com, a leading platform in architectural media, renowned for showcasing innovative projects, student work, and critical discourse in design. Holding dual PhDs in Architecture, Dr. Abdelhady combines academic rigor with industry insight, shaping both future architects and architectural thought. He actively teaches, conducts research, and contributes to the global architecture community through his writing, lectures, and media ventures. His work bridges the gap between practice and academia, pushing the boundaries of how architecture is communicated in the digital age.