MA PRODUCT DESIGN
Omar Bassil – Esplanade
by Omar Bassil
Esplanade is an exploration of how a flat-cut piece of leather can be transformed into a slip-on shoe through folding, wrapping, gathering, and minimal joining using simple tools. Stripping leather shoemaking down to its essentials, form emerges through tension and wear. Referencing the carbatina, a Roman shoe typology constructed from a single piece of leather, the design adapts its pattern principle to a contemporary slip-on. While the construction is reduced to a few essential operations, the making process still relies on the expertise of leather workers and techniques specific to their craft. This approach yields a simple, relaxed, and enduring object as a reflection on craftsmanship and material honesty.
