The Journey of Creativity in Fashion and Shoe Design

Safa Şahin, who frequently makes headlines in the shoe design world with his creative lines and unique designs, attracts attention both locally and internationally. His entry into the fashion world and the challenges he faced along the way have been significant milestones in shaping his current position. Let’s hear from him about how he stepped into the world of design, how he nurtures his imagination, and his collaborations with famous brands.

The Beginning of the Design Passion

Safa Şahin’s interest in the world of design was shaped by coincidences during his high school years. Introduced to shoe design thanks to his brother’s university friend, Şahin discovered how fascinating this field was. “In the middle of high school, my brother’s roommate was studying shoe design, and this had a huge impact on me. During the summer vacation, I stayed with them and began learning more about shoe design. From that moment on, I decided to pursue this field and passed the talent exams to study shoe design,” he says. The spark of interest that ignited in those early years turned into a professional career for Şahin over time.

From Shoe Design to Art: Between Two Worlds

A turning point for Şahin occurred after completing his shoe design education when he faced difficulties in the industry. He was fired from several companies shortly after joining them because his designs weren’t suitable for production. While this experience led him to work for another company, he faced a similar outcome there as well. However, this process allowed Şahin to channel his creativity in a different direction. Discovering how art and design nourish each other, Şahin started to develop his own style by combining shoe design with fine arts education. “Shoe design is a very rule-based and industrial field. Art, on the other hand, is completely free. During my art education, I combined both and stepped out of the rules, creating completely original designs,” he adds.

Sources of Inspiration and Design Language

Safa Şahin’s sources of inspiration span a wide range. Sometimes he draws from themes like metaverse, cyberpunk, and science fiction, while at other times, he is inspired by textures and colors in nature. Always chasing change and innovation in his designs, Şahin describes his style as avant-garde: “I don’t stick to a specific style, but the word avant- garde is closer to how I express myself. My sources of inspiration are quite varied; while at one point I focused on cyberpunk and science fiction themes, these days, I’m more drawn to the colors and textures in nature.”

Interest in Sneaker Design

From the beginning of his career, Şahin always wanted to focus on sneakers. However, as this culture didn’t exist in Turkey at the time, he turned to designing more classical and high-heeled shoes. Still, he never severed his connection with the world of sneakers, and when sneaker culture became mainstream globally, he began focusing more on this area. “When sneaker culture gained great interest worldwide, Turkey became part of it, and I began focusing more on this field,” he says.

Collaboration with Nike: A Dream Come True

His encounter with Nike was a true turning point. Şahin decided to create a roadmap for himself and share a shoe design every day on social media. After working with this discipline for a long time, he was discovered by Nike’s talent scouts. Şahin describes the process: “One night, I shared a design on social media. Late that night, I received an email. They said they were Nike’s talent scouts and had been following me for months. They asked if I wanted to work with Nike and invited me to America.” This invitation opened the doors to his first major collaboration with a global brand.

High Fashion and the Balmain Experience

After Nike, Safa Şahin continued to rise in the fashion world, making another significant leap by becoming the head of Balmain’s sneaker design team. Emphasizing that working with Balmain’s creative director Olivier Rousteing was a creative process, Şahin says, “Olivier always gave me freedom. This allowed me to create much more original designs. It was a great chance to be on the same creative wavelength as him.” Following this experience, Şahin began working with prestigious brands like Bottega Veneta, noting that transitioning between very different disciplines in fashion nourishes his creativity. “Balmain and Bottega Veneta are two completely opposite brands. Bottega is minimal and sophisticated, while Balmain is much louder and more aggressive. Experiencing two different design disciplines enhances my creativity,” he adds.

The Future and the World of Design

For Safa Şahin, technology is an indispensable part of the design world. As technology rapidly evolves, design is also transforming, and Şahin emphasizes that designs are becoming almost flawless. “Without technological advancements, it would be impossible to mass- produce my designs,” he says. Şahin makes two predictions about the future of design: either a return to naturalness and handmade craftsmanship or the preference for products intertwined with technology. “Designs will merge with technologies that make people’s daily lives easier. For example, a jacket could measure your sweat levels, or a shoe could have features like a map or calorie counter,” he shares his insights.

Designer Potential in Turkey and

Advice for Young Designers

Safa Şahin believes that the potential of designers in Turkey is increasing but that the industry still has room for growth. “Our country is known as a center for subcontract manufacturing. We lack designers and original brand creation. 30-40 years ago, China was in the same position, but by serving global brands, they gained know-how and started creating their own brands. Turkey has this potential too, but for this, we need a very good education,” he says.

To inspire young designers, Şahin explains how he managed to stand tall in the face of challenges: “I love designing shoes and drawing. Even if I fail, the process brings me joy. Of course, there were times when I faced difficulties, and even times when I thought about giving up design. But every time I fell, I got back up and continued. Praying and being patient were the things that gave me the most strength during this process.”

Safa Şahin has carved out a unique place for himself in the fashion world by combining art and aesthetics in shoe design. His boundary-pushing designs and collaborations with both high fashion brands and sportswear giants showcase the breadth of his creative vision. With his avant- garde approaches, innovative touches, and deep connection with art, he has opened a new chapter in the design world. It is a great honor and inspiration for us to feature him in our magazine. We wish him continued success.