SIIRI PAKARINEN

Shoe designer, blogger and

mentally in Paris

Charming to meet you,

My name is Siiri and right now I am studying design at Häme University of Applied Sciences footwear as my major. I also write this blog, Posh, where alongside with shoe design I talk about my own style philosophy.

Typically, my design process relies on thorough research which I believe to be the base of all good and justified design. Which is why, sharing my creative process on social media is of great importance, especially, when navigating the complexity of sustainability and other worthy topics.

More often than not, I find inspiration in the times gone by, people in history and in my favorite stories. For example, Marie Antoinette, the 1920s, vintage jewelry, English aristocracy, Paris, Little Women and ballet belong to my small imaginary world.

Especially, knitting fascinates me which is why it has become a characteristic feature of my playfully refined yet classic style of shoes. Therefore, in the future, my intention is to gain a better understanding on how knitting could be used in accessories such as bags and hats.

Yours truly,

Siiri

PRIMA BALLERINA

Collection

"Silk and mohair shoes inspired by ballet, Swan Lake and rococo dance shoes."

Upper: 100% Silk

Velvet ribbon: silk and viscose

Knit: 72% Mohair and 27% silk

Sole: Leather

Heel: Wood, leather and silk

Prima Ballerina is inspired by my long-time hobby, ballet, and draws influence especially from pointe shoes, Swan Lake and rococo dance shoes. This collection charms with real silk, mohair knit imitating swan’s feathers and vegetable dyed velvet. Furthermore, each shoe is named after a famous ballerina or a character from ballet in order to bring forward ballet’s female stars.

Pavlova

Fonteyn

Taglioni

Odette

La Camargo

ODETTE

Swan Princess, maiden in trouble

and a leafer of swans

PAVLOVA

Russian prima ballerina and

a messeger of ballet

LA CAMARGO

French ballerina and pioneer

WOOLSHOE

Sustainable Product Development

"Knitted knee high boots with vintage pearl buttons and luxury felt linning."

Upper: off-white and blue wool yarn and off-white wool felt.

Buttons: mother of pearl

Sole: tunit (vulcanized rubber and SBR rubber)

Heel: plastic, tunit and black excess bovine leather.

Sustainability: The upper is made from wool which is biodegradable, micro plastic free and naturally renewable material. The shoes have button closure with real vintage mother of pearl buttons from the 1940s which can be cut of easily and reused when the shoes is no longer fit for use. The sole is constructed with one layer of tunit and the heel is coated with excess leather. Between the knit and felt lining there are heel and toe stiffeners made from vegetable tanned leather

Design

NOSTALGIA

"Pointed toe mules inspired by time surpasing vintage jewelry".

Upper: green suede, pig skin linnig and black satin.

Sole: Tunit (vulcanized rubber and SBR rubber)

Heel: Plastic, tunit and green suede.

Decoration: Clip-on earrings from 1980s

Sustainability: High quality materials with timesless design that is relevant from age to age. Reusing of vintage clip-on earrings as decorations which you can also wear on your ears for a matching shoe-earing-look.