In an era where fashion and functionality increasingly merge, Khamis Studios emerges as a visionary leader in footwear design, setting new standards for style, sustainability, and innovation. Known for redefining what footwear can be, Khamis Studios blends artistic craftsmanship with cutting-edge technology to create designs that not only look exceptional but also serve the modern wearer’s needs. With each collection, Khamis Studios challenges conventions and pushes the boundaries of what shoes represent, making them a statement, an experience, and a step towards the future of fashion.
Join us as we explore the next chapter in footwear design: one that bridges style with purpose and reinvents the way we walk into tomorrow.
Please could you share some of your early journey into the world of design, joining with the major players like Reebok and Yeezy?
So I got my start as a designer by studying industrial design at Purdue University. From there, I came across some sneaker design contests hosted by the Pensole Design Academy. I started entering those contests, and through them, I discovered that they offered specific footwear design classes taught by D’wayne Edwards, a former Jordan designer at Nike. I ended up winning one of the contests, which granted me a spot in a Pensole class sponsored by New Balance held at their headquarters.
After that, I interned at Columbia Sportswear, and the following summer, I began an apprenticeship at Reebok. I was there full-time for about two and a half years. That experience really solidified my start in the industry. Right after Reebok, I had the opportunity to work with Kanye – not technically through Yeezy, just working directly with him. After that, I transitioned into freelancing and started building my own brand.
How has working with industry giants like Reebok, Kanye and Meta influenced your approach to design?
Yeah, I mean, in the short time I worked with Kanye, it was like, you just try to absorb all these insights from someone who’s at the peak of creativity globally. You want to understand how the process works, how to think about things, and how to approach designing footwear, especially since he’s put out so many iconic designs.
But I also had some really great mentors at Reebok who guided me along the way. They were always willing to answer all of my (probably way too many) questions, and that support really helped me get to where I am now.
What core design principles guide your work, especially when creating this concept-driven footwear like the Hezi?
Yeah, so a lot of what I post tends to be very conceptual, even a bit crazy or exaggerated in terms of shapes and forms. But when it comes to actually making shoes that people are meant to wear, my industrial design background really emphasises that form follows function.
So, function comes first, and the form is guided by the purpose of the shoe, whether it’s meant to be comfortable, designed for sport, or something else. For example, the Hezi is more of a 3D-printed clog type of design, so the focus was on comfort and a nice fit, which influenced a lot of the shapes and forms in the design.
How do you balance aesthetics with the sustainability and the design, particularly with the 100% recyclable nature of the Hezi shoe?
I definitely always try to push creative limits, sometimes exaggerating shapes or forms, or adding unique details to the footwear. But if I try something that ends up affecting comfort, then I’m obviously not going to sacrifice that. People might not even wear the shoes if they’re uncomfortable, even if they like how they look. So there are tricks and design approaches, like using certain lines and forms, to achieve a similar aesthetic while still maintaining comfort.
What role do you see in new technology playing in what role do you see new technology playing in the future of footwear design? And how do you plan to integrate this into your creative process?
Yeah, 3D printing is a big one. What it’s done is transform footwear design by eliminating the need to create a bunch of moulds just to get started. Typically, you’d need separate molds for the left and right shoes, the sole, and then for nearly every size in a full-size run, which is a very costly process.
With 3D printing, though, you can just make one pair if you want, without that massive initial investment. I think this technology will have a huge impact on the future. Alongside that, virtual reality is also becoming a more intuitive and accessible 3D modelling platform. Now, as a designer, you can create the 3D model for a shoe, prepare it for printing, and essentially link the roles of designer, developer, and factory all together through these new technologies.
The Instinct sneaker is now part of the Future Now Museum. Can you tell us about the creative process and technical journey about creating such a futuristic design?
Yeah, so Gravity Sketch reached out to me. Gravity Sketch is the 3D modeling software that I use in virtual reality. They gave me full creative freedom to design a shoe that represents my brand and design style while also tapping into what Gravity Sketch stands for as a brand, software, and tool.
The whole idea when I’m designing there is to create based on instinct and intuition; it’s a more intuitive process. That inspired the design and aesthetic of the shoe. It features parts of a traditional sneaker, including a foam sole, a knit upper, and a rubber outsole. The process then involves diving in and intuitively shaping the design.
We decided to use Gravity Sketch and virtual reality at every step of the process, from early design meetings all the way through to working with the factory and getting samples for the shoe. It wasn’t because we thought, “This is the future, and everyone’s going to do everything in VR,” because that’s just not realistic. Instead, it was more about exploring how we could use this tool at each stage to work more efficiently or better explore design ideas.
There were points where using Gravity Sketch didn’t make much sense, and we learned from that. But in other areas, like working with the factory, it saved us potentially weeks in revisions. For example, we could send the factory the 3D model, and they had a VR headset on hand. The developers joined me in a shared VR space, while they were in Portugal and I was in Indianapolis—where we collaborated on the 3D model. They provided live feedback, like, “Hey, this part won’t work; let’s adjust it,” allowing me to make changes on the spot to maintain the look I wanted.
Instead of going back and forth with blueprints and multiple rounds of revisions, we could handle everything in a single, brief VR meeting.
Sustainability is becoming more important in the fashion industry. How do you envision the future of sustainable footwear evolving?
Yeah, I think sustainability is challenging because there are so many different approaches, and not everyone has managed to make a truly impactful shift, some have, but others haven’t. It’s tough to be perfectly sustainable since creating anything inherently uses resources. But I think the Hezi, with 3D printing, is a strong approach to sustainability.
There are a few layers to this. First, there’s no waste created in the process because it’s all one material, and everything printed goes directly into the shoe. Unlike traditional methods, there’s no scrap from cutouts or foam trimming, so there’s no waste in that sense.
Another benefit is that each pair is made to order, so there’s no minimum order requirement. Larger brands often have to order thousands of pairs, hoping they sell that many. But if they don’t, which happens frequently, especially in fast fashion, unsold shoes just end up in landfills. With the Hezi, every shoe is made for a specific person, so there’s no excess or wasted product.
Finally, another potential sustainability layer we’re working toward involves expanding 3D printing locations. Currently, the Zellerfeld 3D printing facility is only in Germany, but once they expand to have “printer farms” across different countries and cities, we could create a closed-loop system. For instance, if you wanted a new design or an updated version, you could send your old shoes back. The material could be shredded and reused to make a new pair. So, theoretically, a Hezi purchased today could be reprocessed into someone else’s shoe years down the line.
What trends in the design world excite you the most right now and how do you think you could be influenced for some upcoming projects?
When it comes to trends in footwear styles, I don’t typically design based on what’s currently in style, at least not for my own brand. I focus on creating things I’ve always wanted to design. I might incorporate styles that are nostalgic or have elements I’ve loved over the years, but it’s more about personal inspiration than following trends.
That said, from a designer’s perspective, one trend I’ve noticed is the shift toward greater independence. It’s become more accessible for designers to create their own products, and there’s also a growing movement of athletes and artists wanting to launch their own footwear lines. They’re stepping away from the big three or four brands and exploring independent paths.
This is something I’m paying close attention to, collaborating with athletes and artists who want more creative control and helping them design what they truly want, instead of relying solely on big brand partnerships.
How do you stay creative and inspired, particularly in this fast evolving field, like footwear and conceptual design?
Yeah, I mean, I have so many hundreds of sketches and ideas I’ve put down on paper that haven’t been made yet. Working at a company, a lot of ideas inevitably get turned down, so it’s not like I’m short on creative concepts. I try to keep an eye on design innovations in other categories outside of footwear. Focusing too much on footwear alone can lead to accidentally recreating things that already exist.
A lot of designers find inspiration in areas like automotive design and architecture, and I do that sometimes too, but not as much. I’m more interested in observing innovations in other product categories and taking inspiration from nature – things with almost perfectly designed functions that evolved naturally. I try to bring those elements into my own designs.
What can we expect next from Khamis Studios? Are there any exciting projects you can share with us or any upcoming releases that we can know about?
I’m currently working on some new projects with Zellerfeld. So, always be on the lookout for new footwear; I might be doing something like a mule or a slide, which may or may not relate to the Hezi shoes… essentially part of that line.
The Hesi launched earlier this year, so it’s still relatively new and available. My first shoe with Zellerfeld was called ‘Ero‘, which is also out now in a new version made from upgraded material. It has a much nicer fit and better overall quality.
At the moment, I can’t announce anything specific, but there will definitely be more shoes in the works soon, at least a couple are on the way!
