designers dissect old sneakers to create expressive face masks

made from old NIKE and adidas sneakers, these expressive face masks have been designed to highlight humanity’s creativity and ability to adapt. while the COVID-19 pandemic is still expanding in some parts of the world, in others a post-corona society is gradually taking shape with societies rethinking everything from working and traveling to socializing and working out. as we enter this uncharted territory, the designers say the masks are a reminder that the design community can help establish a better world for tomorrow.

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designed by belgian studio WeWantMore, the masks are not intended to replace clinical face masks — although they do provide some protection. the designers chose to use sneakers, as they are a very personal form of expression. ‘more than any other type of shoe, sneakers play a significant role in expressing people’s identity,’ says ruud belmans, co-founder and creative director spatial design at WeWantMore. ‘by dissecting the sneaker into its elemental parts and recreating it as a face mask, we changed its functional role, but the emotional one remains the same. it’s still a way to show the world who you are.’

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while working from his home office, belmans turned off his computer design software and picked up a pair of scissors, a needle, and some thread. although an uncommon switch in a digitally equipped studio, the designer said that the act of creating something by hand turned out to be an amusing alternative to clicking a trackpad. ‘although the long-term impact of the virus on society is still unsure, it’s clear a new set of rules will alter the playing field substantially in the coming months,’ says WeWantMore.

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‘social distancing, mandatory face masks and contact tracing just to name a few. unknown territory? yes, but so were the internet, mobile phones and social media in their early days,’ says the studio. WeWantMore believes it’s a matter of adopting a designer’s mindset when it comes to dealing with this altered reality: ‘it’s a chance to take things apart, reinvent them and make them relevant again within the new normal.’

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