No Two Shoes Are The Same In Nicole McLaughlin's Collaboration with PUMA
“Scaling a shoe like this was undoubtedly the most challenging yet rewarding experience.” — Nicole McLaughlin
Colorado-based, multidisciplinary artist and designer Nicole McLaughlin, is a master in turning everyday items into something extraordinary. From her Haribo candy packet shorts to the cheeky croissant bra (the “brassant”) and even teacup headphones, her creations are a blend of humor, creativity and upcycling genius. Despite working on commercial projects, like the “Nicole McLaughlin x Reebok Club C Geo Midwith” and Polaroid‘s “Go Create” project, her personal designs are typically not for sale.
That is, until now. Nicole’s latest collaboration with PUMA brings her unique creativity to a whole new level. The two have teamed up to upcycle leftover PUMA factory fabrics into shoes, specifically the brand’s classic “PUMA Suede” sneaker, but with a Nicole McLaughlin twist. The shoe features a detachable card wallet on the front — perfect for anyone who wants a pocketless outfit.
PUMA and McLaughlin are no strangers to collaboration. Back in March 2021, the multidisciplinary artist and the sneaker giant first teamed up to create a jacket made from PUMA goalkeeper gloves. A year later, she turned a PUMA basketball into a glove that inflates when pumped. It’s clear that when the two come together, something truly magic happens.
In our latest instalment of Baes with Kicks, we catch up with McLaughlin to dive into the making of this collaboration, the challenges behind it and what other wild ideas she’s itching to bring to life.
Keep scrolling for the full interview.
Name: Nicole McLaughlin
Location: Colorado, U.S.
Occupation: Multidisciplinary artist and designer
What’s your first step in transforming an idea or object into a fully realized product?
The start of a project is determined by the material I use and every material I work with is different — since it’s all upcycled and or secondhand. So, it’s usually a case of getting familiar with the fabrics and figuring out what I’m going to do with them. From there, it’s a very organic process of trying different things and figuring out the shapes they make, which then determines what kind of piece I’m going to create.
What was the process for this project in particular?
The approach to this collaboration felt completely natural to me. Not only because we’ve worked together for so long but I also love the brand and its “PUMA Suede” — it’s my favorite classic silhouette. The idea came from all the leftover factory scraps they had, so we focused on using them in the most impactful way possible.
It sounds like your methodology comes effortlessly, but what typically sparks your creativity?
I’m inspired by so many things, it’s hard to pinpoint what exactly. For example, sometimes it’s thrifting. When I visit a thrift store, especially while traveling, I love exploring how different regions offer unique things. It’s fascinating to see bits and pieces that feel deeply tied to the character of a place.
This summer, I traveled all over Europe and it was truly inspiring to discover the variety of materials I found there. That being said, I find endless inspiration in my surroundings. Living in Colorado, I’m particularly drawn to nature, the outdoors and the landscapes around me — nothing fuels my creativity more than rock climbing.
What inspired this specific silhouette?
The objective of this shoe was to come up with a solution for using all the leftover factory scrap materials, so the inspiration was dedicated to the material itself and trying to find ways of maximizing it. I also wanted to add my own little touch, so I added a pocket on the front that doubles as a little wallet, which is also detachable. I love finding creative ways to incorporate storage into my projects — it’s a key element for me. I enjoy designing clever solutions for things like credit cards or money, so this addition felt like a natural fit with my design process.
Through working on this collaboration, what was the most surprising part?
Working with the factory to explore possibilities and improve production efficiency was fascinating. I’m used to working on a one-of-a-kind scale, so communicating my ideas for a production line was a completely different challenge. I feel like we learned so much throughout the process and it just goes to show that you can use leftover materials at scale.
Speaking of challenges, would you say scaling the shoe was the most difficult part?
Yes, scaling a shoe like this was undoubtedly the most challenging yet rewarding experience. Through this project, I saw how they achieved this by maximizing every piece to create large sheets that ultimately became the shoes. I think this was the first time that I truly got my process to a scalable format. My footwear collaborations are usually heavy on using recycled materials or some type of natural fabric, but this felt like a completely different upcycling project. I love the fact that every single pair is different. No two pairs of shoes are the same and it feels very special to each person that has them.
If you had no limitations — budget, material or technical constraints, what’s the most ambitious or whimsical creation you’d want to make?
If I had an endless budget, endless time and no boundaries, my dream project would be to upcycle an entire car, from start to finish. I’d repurpose everything — from the seat upholstery and leather to the car mats and airbags — and turn it into furniture.
A car repurposed into furniture sounds insanely cool — would you say your work is redefining the boundaries between art, fashion and functionality in design?
One of my goals is to figure out how to repurpose second-hand materials and waste, by focusing on creative solutions for reuse and sustainability. This is so important because the fashion and design industry generates so much excess waste and unused resources. Another objective of mine is to inspire people to rethink the items they use daily and demonstrate that anyone can embrace this approach. My biggest message is “upcycling is for everybody.” I think we all have things in our lives that we don’t use as much anymore, but it doesn’t mean that it’s waste, there’s always potential to repurpose them in new and meaningful ways.
How do you think the fashion industry can evolve in terms of rethinking waste?
The fashion industry has a waste problem and it needs to be addressed. However, there are creative and innovative ways to tackle it while keeping solutions practical and scalable. This collaboration is a great example of how we can achieve that balance by developing unique projects that feel special without contributing to overproduction.
For more Baes with Kicks, read about the debut collaboration between Tela D’Amore and Jordan Brand.
