This pair of absolutely unwearable, burned and spiked sandals were a rewarding recent commission for a sister to her brother. As children, they played a tough-love game of putting unfriendly, sharp objects in a pair of over-sized shoes and competed for the longest walk. Now, much later in life, each having walked long, personal paths on their own, the symbolism of that childhood game has become rich in its depth and irony. After seeing the similar previous series of spiked sandals called, “Things Fall Apart”, the client thought a small wall piece based on the same idea of the impossibly painful shoe would be a great coastal house-warming gift for her brother.

The soles are made of hard curly maple, shaped by hand and charred with a torch. The straps are laminated walnut with inset, cut steel tacks.