Felt the Future - walking with wool
Philipp Remus | Hochschule Pforzheim
Guided by circular design principles, this project explores the development of shoes made entirely from wool. The originality lies in the creative integration of traditional and digital manufacturing techniques with wool – a circular material that is compostable, repairable, and capable of binding pollutants. Issues such as water absorption are addressed through impregnation and material blends. These prototypes showcase new design possibilities and inspire ecological innovation in the footwear industry.
Award winner 2025 in the category »Nachwuchs«»“Felt the Future” is an inspiring and forward-looking project that merges craft and digital fabrication through consistently circular design principles. With a bold mono-material approach of 100% wool for footwear, it shows how circularity takes shape, transcends conventional design horizons, and paves the way for a future-oriented design culture.«
Ina Budde
Three questions for Philipp Remus
How did the idea for "Felt the Future - walking with wool" first come about?
I first really engaged with wool in a cross-disciplinary course designed to boost the appeal of this local resource. I was instantly fascinated by the idea of creatively reimagining and recontextualising wool, a material often dismissed as old-fashioned. My awareness of wool’s untapped potential, together with the huge number of discarded shoes, served as my starting point. In turn, this inspired the radical concept of a monomaterial shoe made from wool.
Were there any breakthrough moments in the course of development? What were the biggest obstacles you faced?
The production of the clog prototype and the comprehensive material tests with wool required precision and patience. One of the greatest challenges was mastering frame stitching, a traditional shoemaking technique where the insole, upper, and frame are invisibly and securely sewn together by hand. My personal highlight was seeing the wool felt insole withstand the intense tension during stitching.
What are the next steps for your project as you look to the future?
My master’s programme offers the right environment for further developing and professionalising my project. Alongside technical challenges such as water resistance and abrasion, it is also important to me to take social and ecological aspects into account. My aim is to move the shoe project closer to production while exploring systems that focus equally on ecological impact, fair value for shepherds and producers, and wider social acceptance of wool as a raw material.
