Shoo~Min

A Korean tradition-inspired sustainable shoe

Shoe Design

Soft Goods

Sustainability

Pink Korean-inspired shoes designed by Sumin are displayed prominently on the right. On the left, it reads 슈민~ above Shoo~min, in digital charcoal-looking lettering.

Timeline

6.5 weeks
January 2024 - March 2024

My role

Designer/Prototyper

Team

Just me!

Tools

Sewing
Pattern Making
3D Scanning

The Project

Design a fully sustainable pair of wearable shoes using only the provided wool felt and an eco-friendly sole material. The footwear had to demonstrate proper fit, comfort, durability, and aesthetic quality.

The Problem

How might I design a soft, sustainable everyday shoe that blends comfort, form, and cultural reference into a single felt construction?

The Solution

Shoo~min is a soft everyday flat designed and constructed from a single sheet of eco-felt with a crocheted sole, blending sustainable materials with inspiration from traditional Korean footwear.

The Inspiration

I drew inspiration from traditional Korean footwear combining the gomusin’s simple, curved slip-on form with the jipsin’s natural, sustainable material. This direction allowed me to merge cultural heritage with eco-conscious soft-goods design.

The Material

A single sheet of natural wool eco-felt served as the core material for this project.

Why Eco Felt?

Biodegradable and renewable natural fiber
Naturally breathable, warm, and durable
Supports minimal-waste and eco-friendly construction

Material Properties

Dense fiber structure allows for:
- Laser cutting with clean edges
- Folding & layering without tearing
- Stitching without fraying
- Fully dyeable, allowing color customization
Provides a balance of softness and structural integrity

The Sole Material

I hand-crocheted the sole using hemp and mixed fibers to form a rounded, supportive base, with extra layers at the heel to improve durability.

Why Hemp Twine?

Hemp twine was selected for its durability and sustainability, while visually referencing the woven structure of traditional Jipsin shoes.

A finished sole, made using hemp and mixed fibers.

An in-progress sole, layers are starting to take shape but it is still incomplete and attached to the crochet hook.

Final Pattern

Using a seam allowance, I stitched the shoe inside-out and then flipped it right-side out so all raw edges and stitching are hidden inside the shoe for a cleaner finish.
I added seam allowance and hemmed the top edge to create a clean, finished opening with no exposed raw felt.

Final Shoe

$A close-up of a traditional Korean Hanbok dress, featuring a white top with pink and green floral embroidery on the sleeve and a vibrant, textured lime-green skirt. To the right, on a white table, is a pair of pink, woven casual flats with small bows, inspired by traditional Korean shoes (Shoo-min), sitting next to two decorative hair sticks (binyeo). The background wall has text in Korean and English: \'수민~ shoo~min\' and 'Shoo-min is inspired by traditional Korean shoes made to be more comfy and have a casual stylish look.' accompanied by simple line drawings of three flats.$

Motion Study