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NOVA Shoe by ZAHA HADID for UNITED NUDE

Zaha Hadid and Rem D Koolhaas of United Nude have launched a new limited edition haute couture shoe. The NOVA shoe combines innovative material and ergonomic considerations with the dynamism of Hadid’s architectural language to convey an inherent sense of movement.

“I could not resist the challenge to work with Zaha. We gave ourselves the greatest degree of experimentation and used the latest digital design and manufacturing technologies to create one of the most revolutionary shoes ever produced,” says Koolhaas.

Zaha Hadid explains, “I have always appreciated those who dare to experiment with materials and proportions. Our collaboration with United Nude reinterprets the classic shoe typology; pushing the boundaries of what is possible without compromising integrity.”

The NOVA design incorporates intricate striations juxtaposed with dramatic realignments, establishing a direct formal relationship with the shoe’s primary structure and expressing the dynamic forces applied by the wearer’s every step. A cantilevered system allows the 16cm (6.25 in) heel to appear completely unsupported.

United Nude’s advanced shoe engineering and Hadid’s remarkable design have combined in a most revolutionary shoe. Injection molding, as well as hand-molded methods such as vacuum casting were combined to realize the design. Rotation molding enabled the shoes' seamless detailing.

Video
Video showing the making of Nova
Full press release and photography
United Nude