Shoes of Theseus

I can't answer the ancient philosophical question posed by Plutarch regarding Theseus' ship, but I know that if the ship of Theseus could extend its life in this way, people wouldn't have to cut down more trees to build new ships.

The project focuses on discarded shoes. Shoes are complex in composition and structure, which makes it more difficult to clean, disassemble, recycle or circulate in the second-hand marketthen clothes. Therefore most shoes end up in landfills - but the problem remains because most components on shoes are hard to degrad.

So the life cycle of a shoe is a one-way line. The raw materials of all parts of shoes come from nature, such as leather, plant fibres, metals, and man-made materials from resin or petroleum (as well as water and energy in the production process). These resources are deeply processed and difficult to return to nature. Yet, most discarded shoes are prematurely replaced, wasting developed resources and necessitating further production, leading to resource depletion and environmental strain.

The project's core concept involves maximizing processed resources. Through modular design, consumers can replace only damaged components, thus prolonging the overall shoe's lifespan and optimizing processed natural resources. This approach curtails landfill pressure, reduces unnecessary resource consumption, and promotes sustainable practices. The initiative also encompasses broader system integration, fostering new lifestyles and encouraging recycling of old shoe parts. By fundamentally altering the approach to shoe consumption and disposal, the project aims to address the wasteful cycle prevalent in current footwear practices.