The Chilote house shoe is a mash-up design incorporating several sustainable principles in creating synergy between local culture and resources through a green design process.

The goal here was not to solve any of the worlds diverse environmental problems, just to develop the ideal (craft+design) indoor shoe in a way that is economically viable, culturally beneficial and environmentally responsible.

The result, is the most sustainable product I have had the opportunity to design, I’m happy to announce that essustainable has decided to develop the Chilote as part of a Chilean government sponsored project.

Globalization is all around us and it has different local effects in different parts of the world. In the south of Chile, it triggered the explosion of the salmon export industry. This industry is obviously having a big environmental impact in the region but also a significant cultural impact as well.

The Chilote craft is traditionally practiced by women in Chiloe as a way of life, as an applied art that provides basic needs for their families and brings extra income for their communities. Today, it has become much more profitable for young women to work shifts in the salmon packing plants.

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