ITS 2020 explained episode 16: How to explore the no-mind concept in footwear, by Maria Bika.
02 April 2021
Maria Bika is an architect engineer and footwear designer, with degrees from the National Technical University in Greece and the London College of Fashion in the United Kingdom.
Exploring the materialisation of silence in footwear, by constructing artifacts that highlight the importance of mindfulness in contemporary culture. This is the subject of Maria’s project. The shoe is approached here as a tool of internalisation and proposes a new dimension of space. The main aim is to explore the possibilities of what footwear design could be, at the same time researching the boundaries of the movement. Feet movement here represents the way through which the mind comes into the present moment and focuses on personal awareness. A concept expressed by Ensō, or the Circle of Enlightenment, which embodies one of the most defining aspects of Zen Buddhism. The no-mind concept. A state of no-mind is where a person is free from every thought or emotion through the total experience of the present moment. The feet here become the mediators between the body and the mind in order to reach the ultimate inner feeling of silence.
International Talent Support was launched in 2002 and throughout its history it has developed into the most highly recognized platform to showcase & support the strongest young talents on the planet. Most importantly, it created an ever-growing family supporting creativity, like branches on a tree growing in different directions, yet nurtured by the same roots. It has built an impressive Creative Archive, a unique collection tracing the history of fashion evolution. Many of the over 630 finalists were selected by top fashion brands where they now hold key positions, or have successfully developed their own lines.
Discover more about Maria Bika’s ITS 2020 collection
Discover more about ITS 2020
Discover more about ITS