Real shoe-stopper

An iconic German footwear brand collaborates with a clothes designer and a sculptor to produce a unique art installation to promote its wares in China

What do a Chinese woman's wear designer, a German shoe label and a Chinese Buddhist sculptor have in common? An art installation in Shanghai.

The work was put together by designer Liu Min, Birkenstock and Jiang Sheng, and it is based on a deer park in Sarnath, India, where Gautama Buddha first preached.

There was no deer in the showroom where the installation was set up, but carefully pruned trees. And hidden in the trees were 13 Buddha statues, each made of glass, jade or stones, by Jiang Sheng.

Soft music lingered in the room and the lighting looked like late afternoon sunlight.

A few pairs of Birkenstock shoes designed by Liu Min, specially for the China market were displayed.

Liu has produced some traditional Chinese patterns for the sandals featuring the dragon, the peony and the spider.

The red shoes with peony design are for weddings and traditional festivals.

Liu who graduated from the London College of Fashion in 2007, and once worked with Viktor & Rolf, said that the dragon and peony are very typically Chinese, but the spider is unusual.

Speaking about the spider, she says that the Chinese word for "spider" sounds like the word for "satisfied" or "contented".

So, the shoes with the spider pattern featuring the Chinese characters zhi zu chang le on the foot-bed refer to happiness.

Birkenstock is producing 300 pairs of shoes designed by Liu Min which will be available in stores in China in February.

"Liu Min's designs complement Birkenstock," says Yvonne Piu, Birkenstock's Chief Marketing Officer.

"We share the idea of simplicity and being natural. And Birkenstock doesn't have elements without a function.

"We don't think of Birkenstock as a fashion brand. It's about being natural, comfortable and healthy," she adds.