40 Of The World's Coolest And Most Unique Shoe Designs From The "Virtual Shoe Museum"

Step into Liza Snook’s magical world of shoes at the “Virtual Shoe Museum”. Started in 2004 with designer Taco Zwaanswijk, this isn’t just any shoe site. From shoes you can wear to artsy ones made from wild stuff like jellyfish and 3D prints, there’s something for every shoe lover. Plus, every day there’s a cool shoe to check out and news on shoe events. It’s a must-visit for anyone crazy about unique footwear.

See some of the most unique shoe designs curated by Snook in the gallery below.

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1. Spill By Kobi Levi

“Two different coloured leather slip on shoes with metallic silver upper, 2023.

Inspired by ‘Acrylic pour painting’, a painting method created by using acrylic paint to pour on a surface to create a flowing design.

2. Disassemble Me #2 By Amber Ambrose Aurèle

“Construction shoe made of recycled plexiglass with leather straps and a quilted rainbow fabric sockshoe, 2020

Photo by Charlotte Visser.”

3. Polyposis By Kermit Tesoro

“Mixed media sculpture, inspired by Cephalopods, 2015.

A cephalopod is any member of the molluscan class Cephalopoda such as a squid, octopus, cuttlefish, or nautilus. These exclusively marine animals are characterized by bilateral body symmetry, a prominent head, and a set of arms or tentacles modified from the primitive molluscan foot.

Material: Resin and plastic mixed with powdered corals and pulverized branches.

Photo by Charlotte Visser and Museum Lichtenwalde, model Elisabeth Thorsen.”

4. Horn By Vero Twiqo

“Large swirling motif leather two-colored pumps with a dainty heel, made to order, 2021.

A series of imaging extended antennas to spread one’s personality from the toes of the shoe.
Available in three two-color variations.

5. Wooden Crocs By Ruben Lekkerkerker

“Wooden carved crocs clogs, 2022.

The only, durable non-plastic, crocs Dutch people need!

via Virtual Shoe Museum

6. Vive La Death! By Into Into

“Unique handmade shoes, 2015.

Material: wood, leather, and metal.

7. Psychedelic Dreams By Floor Hermes

“Part of the graduation collection ‘Psychedelic Dreams’, 4 pairs of shoes, 4th-year SASK, d’Academie Beeld Sint-Niklaas in Belgium, 2022.

Marbled leather sandal with transparent gaiter and layered acrylic platform sole.

Photo by Hessel Waalewijn.”

8. Shoetribe 1/5 By Marlou Browaeys

“Part of the graduation collection ‘SHOETRIBE’, 5 pairs of shoes, 4th-year SASK, d’Academie Beeld Sint-Niklaas in Belgium, 2020.

This collection is based on ethnic masks from different population groups from all over the world. The masks are interpreted in a graphical way, based on a striped pattern inspired by optical black-and-white illusions.

The 5 shoe pairs are based on 3 different lasts: pointed – squared – round. These shapes enhance the expression and graphics of the design. The graphic forms overflow into the heel. The sleek architectural heel is a basic part in the collection, with different layers of EVA, (un)coated, or inlaid with pearls. The color palette and the contrasting of (bright) areas of color are inspired by the paintings of Joan Miró.

Material: patent leather (inlay marquetry technique), EVA and pearls.

Photo by Charlotte Visser.”

9. Killer Heels By Joyce De Gruiter

“Unique work, wearable shoes and mixed media, 2023.

Part of the collection Pink! Punk! Pop! Only the color is suitable for Barbie and Ken. The rest of the cake is for the dare-devils. But I strongly advise: only Look and do not Touch!

One pill makes you larger, and one pill makes you small.
And the ones that mother gives you, don’t do anything at all.
Go ask Alice, when she’s ten feet tall.
Soundtrack: White Rabbit, Jefferson Airplane.

Photo by Bas Duijs.”

via Virtual Shoe Museum

10. Counterpart By Kobi Levi

11. Rox, Your’e On Mute! By Roxanne Lieckens

“Leather toe-knob sandals with embroidered terry cloth straps and a foam sphere heel, 2022.

Part of the collection ‘Rox, you’re on mute!’, 3 pairs of shoes, 2nd year SASK, d’Academie Beeld Sint-Niklaas in Belgium.

Inspired by working from home due to Covid. Lieckens: ‘When I choose a theme, I usually end up with something from my living environment. This theme represents something that we have all had to deal with, rather involuntarily, to work from home. To visualise this I combined elements that represent domestic objects with one that represents something businesslike. And I used contrasts. Working from home is actually a contradiction in terms, so I combined hard and soft materials, glossy and matte, white and blue. Bathrobe/computer, headphone/comforter, tea cup/tea bag.’

Photo Hessel Waalewijn.”

12. Daisies By Joe Snacke

“Mirror-finish laser-cut boot with Takashi Murakami smiling daisies appliqué, first-year SASK, d’Academie Beeld Sint-Niklaas in Belgium, 2019.

Drawing from traditional Japanese painting, sci-fi, anime, and the global art market, Takashi Murakami creates paintings, sculptures, and films populated by repeated motifs and mutating characters of his own creation. His wide-ranging work embodies an intersection of pop culture, history, and fine art.

Photo by Charlotte Visser.”

13. Snow White By Tran Ngoc Yen Tomas Bata University

“Project by Tran Ngoc Yen for the Faculty of Multimedia Communications, Shoe Design Studio, 2017.

Material: leather, wood and a red apple.

Snow White is a 19th-century German fairy tale that is today known widely across the Western world. The Brothers Grimm published it in 1812 in the first edition of their collection Grimms’ Fairy Tales. The name Sneewittchen was Low German and in the first version it was translated with Schneeweißchen. The Grimms completed their final revision of the story in 1854. The fairy tale features such elements as the magic mirror, the poisoned apple, the glass coffin, and the characters of the evil queen and the Seven Dwarfs.

14. Balance By Amara Hark-Weber

“Gold leather balanced boat-shaped platform mules, part of the ‘Muscle Memory’ collection, 2012-2013.

Memories are written throughout our bodies. Inscribed on bones, stretched through tendons, embedded in muscle, our pasts are present in every movement we make. Having lost major portions of my long term memory, and struggling with a newly limited short term memory due to injuries in a car accident, the ‘Muscle Memory’ collection explores how experience and emotion can be recalled through physical sensation and movement.

15. Ludvík By Amálie Magdaléna Mlčochová

“Derby shoe with a soft, smooth pillow contrasting with a hard, rigid, and massive heel, 2022.

Inspired by Louis XIV, particularly portraits of him presenting his pomp and pageantry of his person and consequently of the entire Baroque period ‘L’État, c’est moi’.

Material: Brocade upper with a welded tongue and the cushion replacing the sole, the back parts are made of smooth kid-skin. The beech heel is covered with leather.

via Virtual Shoe Museum

16. Split By Marjolijn Van Agt

“Part of the graduation collection ‘SPLIT’, 5 pairs of shoes, 4th year SASK Shoe Design, 2020.

A collection that a resemblances my duality, my inner and outer life. On one hand rebellious and on the other hand a girly-girly who secretly hopes to live in pink Barbie’s dream home one day. This is visible in the shapes of the heel, which has both hard and soft lines.

Material: lace, satin fabric, glitter and casted heel.

Photo by Charlotte Visser.”

17. Mirror Boots By Mihai Albu

“Optical illusion, mirrored boots, 2013.

18. Awakening By Ying Ou

“Part of the LCF graduation collection, consisting of six pairs of shoes, 2023.

This collection comes out of Ying’s fear and unease about the loss of physical human contact in public space in this era, leading to a rigidity of self-consciousness. As the development of digital technology and the repeated ravages of the epidemic have exacerbated the disconnection between the body and the physical world, new fields of perception have affected our social systems and habits and have changed the way we perceive the world, which are key elements in the construction of self-identity.

This collection explores the unconscious and unusual interaction between the most obvious objects that have lost their connection in public space – railings or handrails – and the body, experiencing their different mental space sensations. In doing so, it explores new forms of footwear and attempts to evoke human communication and perception with objects in public space and to consider their intimate relationship with each other. And looking for breakthroughs in metal, two-tone leather and 3D printing.

Photograph by Anson Shen.”

19. Awakenings By Ying Ou

“Part of the LCF graduation collection, consisting of six pairs of shoes, 2023. This collection comes out of Ying’s fear and unease about the loss of physical human contact in public space in this era, leading to a rigidity of self-consciousness. As the development of digital technology and the repeated ravages of the epidemic have exacerbated the disconnection between the body and the physical world, new fields of perception have affected our social systems and habits and have changed the way we perceive the world, which are key elements in the construction of self-identity.

Photograph by Anson Shen.”

20. Turning Point By Jo Cope

“Unique sculpture. Turning Point symbolizes the foot and shoe as directors of destiny, 2022.

The typography, created on a traditional foil embossing press, replaces the usual brand identity of the shoe with text which represents the potential life-changing choices of the wearer. Jo is interested in encouraging a deeper look at the power hidden in our feet and their potential to impact positive thoughts and actions.

Materials: recycled shoe parts, leather and gold block foil.

Photo by Nigel Essex.”

via Virtual Shoe Museum

21. Flattern By René Van Den Berg

“‘Flattern’ is composed of the words ‘flat’ and ‘pattern’, 2019.

Inspired by Synesthesia, a figure of speech in which a combination of the impressions of different senses is used in expressions. For instance, the letter ‘A’ is likely to be associated with red.

Material: carbon fiber.
Produced in co-operation with Erik Hondebrink/Podo Tools.

22. Flat Stilettos By Kobi Levi

23. Sweat By Alice Potts

“Ballet pointe shoes covered by sweat-made crystals, 2018.

Sweat is a collection developed during the MA in Fashion at Royal College of Art. Looking at the a multidisciplinary approach combing Fashion, Body and Science. Developing future biomaterials and looking at how we can create our own accessories through our secretions. Sweat creates and captures an emotion beyond an ordinary experience. Showing the beauty of how our bodies respond to our current environment, Yet also captures a single moment from different points in individuals lives. We all secret every day but never stop to think about the importance of this bodily response or what it could be.

Sweat covers us in similar ways to clothing and shoes, like a second skin, but the most beautiful about it is that it removes global and political labeling. Everyone sweat is unique and so is each human being, no one is exactly the same and shouldn’t be judged by globalized external factors but who they are internally.

24. Button Boot-Brussel By Rémi Vergnanin

“Chunky sneaker model, combining a button boot to a classic city, 1st year assignment or d’Academie Beeld Sint-Niklaas (former SASK) in Belgium, 2023.

Material: vintage leather, buckles, plastic bags, lace, straps, paint and metal studs.

Photo by Hessel Waalewijn.”

25. IKEA Boot By Hideki Sato

“Open-toe boot. Inspired by IKEA’s iconic large blue FRAKTA shopping bag, 2017.

Materials: recycled shopping bag, the handles are transformed into a graceful bow on the instep.

@ Hideki Sato”

via Virtual Shoe Museum

26. Equilibrium By Amara Hark-Weber

“Suede imbalanced wedged ankle boots, part of the ‘Muscle Memory’ collection, 2012-2013.

27.

28. Nomads By Oyundelger Mashbat

“Part of the collection ‘Nomads, 4 pairs of shoes, 3rd year SASK, d’Academie Beeld Sint-Niklaas in Belgium, 2022.

High-shaft decorated fabric elevated platforms with decorated leg garters and a metal pendulum at the heel.

A collection inspired by Mongolian traditional ethnic embroidered garments.

Photo by Hessel Waalewijn.”

29. Nomads By Oyundelger Mashbat

“Part of the collection ‘Nomads, 4 pairs of shoes, 3rd year SASK, d’Academie Beeld Sint-Niklaas in Belgium, 2022.

High-shaft cut out boots with decorated patent leather patchwork and a silver patterned elevated platform.

A collection inspired by Mongolian traditional silver patterned plates and ethnic embroidered garments.

Photo by Hessel Waalewijn.”

30. Optimistic Personality By Lyujie Liu

“Part of the London College of Fashion graduation collection ‘Gaint-baby’, 6 pairs of leather shoes with squidgy padded loops, 2023.

Lui: ‘A shoe collection of fashionable footwear. Each pair corresponds to a giant-baby characteristic. Bright colours and decorative lines, my design language to break up the black and white of the adult world. I hope that I can amplify the cuteness of childishness through my designs and help adults to enjoy the positive side of children’s culture.

I am an only-child under China’s one-child policy. Most of my peers, like me, are also only-children. The whole family dotes on a child, and the over-protection leads to the immaturity of many only-children’s minds in adulthood. If possible, I would like to call us ‘gaint-baby’. What is gain-baby? Literally, gain-baby refers to a huge baby. But in fact it refers to adults who are mentally stuck in the child stage.

As a group of people who don’t want to grow up, gaint-baby’s have their own new outlook on life. They are unwilling to force themselves to be mature and follow the mainstream. They are eager to return to the world of children, enjoy fantasy and try to have fun in life.’

via Virtual Shoe Museum

31. Aladdin’s Shoe By Bar Siloni

“Wet molded leather clog, made at the veg tan leather course by Eliora Lemmer Ginsburg, 2019.

Materials: veg tan leather and Aniline dye.

Photo by Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design.”

32. Walk The Thin Line By Joseline Haverman

“Haverman creates shoes out of curiosity and her only starting point is that the shoe should be wearable, 2022.

Every step in the creative process is a choice for Joseline in what is possible. This design is an extreme expression of that process. Designed at the René van den Berg Academy, The Netherlands.

Material: leather and wood.

Photo by Charlotte Visser.”

33. Awakenings By Ying Ou

“This collection comes out of Ying’s fear and unease about the loss of physical human contact in public space in this era, leading to a rigidity of self-consciousness. As the development of digital technology and the repeated ravages of the epidemic have exacerbated the disconnection between the body and the physical world, new fields of perception have affected our social systems and habits and have changed the way we perceive the world, which are key elements in the construction of self-identity.

Photograph by Anson Shen.”

34. Ice Berg By Wxy

“Collection, 2015.

Material: metal and vegetable-tanned Italian leather.

35. Apex Predator Superstar By Fantich & Young

“Adidas Superstar sneakers, sculpture, 2015

Apex predators are predators with no predators of their own, residing at the top of their food chain.

Materials: Adidas sneakers, teeth dentures.

via Virtual Shoe Museum

36. Hana By Karin Maas

“Part of the graduation collection ‘K[ar]intsugi’, 4 pairs of shoes, 4th-year SASK, d’Academie Beeld Sint-Niklaas in Belgium, 2022.

Layered flower embroidered voile fabric on patent leather geta-style platform mules.

‘K[ar]intsugi’ is an interconnection of my name Karin with the Japanese word Kintsugi. Hana is Japanese for flower.

Photo by Hessel Waalewijn.”

37. Chopines By Amara Hark-Weber

“Wooden high platform leather sandal clogs inspired by Chopines, part of the ‘Tall shoes’ collection, 2018.

Chopines were originally used as a clog or overshoe to protect the shoes and dress from mud and street soil, popular in the 15th, 16th, and 17th centuries.

38. Western Geisha By Elodie Atlan

“Veg-tanned leather split toe heel-less wedge mule with a wooden platform sole, 2019.

Photo by Bezalel Academy of Art & Design.”

39. Framed Shoes By Joline Vandenheulen

40. Mondrian Shoes By Ike Van Der Plas

“Handmade leather men’s shoes, 2017.

Inspired by Dutch painter and theoretician Piet Mondriaan who is regarded as one of the greatest artists of the 20th century. He is known for being one of the pioneers of 20th century abstract art, as he changed his artistic direction from figurative painting to an increasingly abstract style, until he reached a point where his artistic vocabulary was reduced to simple geometric elements.

via Virtual Shoe Museum