Vienna is well known for its elegant balls apart from classical music and its famous musicians. Other than the most popular Vienna Ball, however, there are many other events of similar kind but meant for specific sectors such as for students and even shoe designers.
The Schumacher or Shoemaker Ball is the VIP event for young shoe designers in the Austrian capital. It gathers the best shoe designers not only in Austria but around the world as well including those from France, Russia and Sweden. Each year, a Crazy Shoe award is given to the shoemaker with the maddest new shoe design.
This year, Lisa Brumbaer who’s only 20 years old became the lucky awardee. She said her design featuring foot eating plants took three weeks to complete. Her goal, she said, was to make organic shoes which eventually became what she called a carnivorous plant project.
Second in line to Brumbaer was 25-year-old Theresa Gerlinger from Austria. She created cobblers shoe using shoe brushes, tape measures and hammers. Third place went to 28-year-old Martin Neubauer from Vienna who created a wooden clog.
Other interesting designs showcased by the participants included a steam engine, snake skeleton and coral reef with fish.
The only requirement for this particular award is for the shoemaker to create a footwear that has an outlandish design but can still be worn.
This Shoemaker Ball was first held in 1938.
