Level Up

The Level up project is based on using footwear to change consumer behaviors that have a negative impact on the environment. I want to use footwear as a platform to force people to make more ethical consumer choices. I wanted to explore the human mind and try to better understand why we have a constant desire for more belongings. I thought by doing this and creating a collection of high quality, hand-made shoes, I could create a collection that was not only visually interesting but also challenged the industry. I wanted some of the industry blame that gets put on the big companies to be flipped onto the consumer so that they have the opportunity to understand the impact consumers can have as well. Big companies get a lot of blame for their negative impact to the environment, but I believe that as consumers, we push these companies to continually produce. I also want to show people that they have the opportunity to reduce their footprint on the environment.

Overall, I want to hold the user accountable and make them aware of their actions in order to have a positive impact on the world and the environment. Supply and demand are a huge issue in the fast fashion industry and the big brands will not change if the consumers do not change as well. To reduce the impact on the environment, we must work together.