the brazilian footwear brand melissa has given zaha hadid the opportunity to design a shoe in plastic… in its most fashionable state. the curvature of the limited-edition shoe is familiar from many recent projects by zaha hadid architects, like the abu dhabi performing arts center and the london aquatic center. ‘the fluidity of our design combined perfectly with the technology of melissa’s plastic, injecting pieces without closures or seals,’ says hadid. available in eight colours, the shoe was launched on september 18, 2008 during london fashion week. ‘it can’t be clunky – you have to really work on it like a sculpture’ she said. here are a few stills from a video showing the making of a giant zaha hadid shoe sculpture.

zaha hadid designs a plastic shoe for melissa

the shoes features zaha hadid’s signature: morphed curves, transformed into a ballet slipper.

zaha hadid designs a plastic shoe for melissa

zaha hadid designs a plastic shoe for melissa

zaha hadid designs a plastic shoe for melissa

zaha hadid designs a plastic shoe for melissa

zaha hadid designs a plastic shoe for melissa

zaha hadid designs a plastic shoe for melissa