The classic PVC Jelly Shoe
Design Ideas and Random Thoughts
Read Time: 3-4 min
Made me think:
“Material is a means of communication. You must listen to it.”
— Issey Miyake, fashion designer
PVC shoes, then and now
Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) was first discovered in 1838 by French chemist Henri Victor Regnault, and independently again in 1872by German scientist Eugen Baumann. However, it wasn’t until the early 20th century that it became commercially viable, thanks to Waldo Semon of the B.F. Goodrich Company in the US, who developed a method to plasticise it — turning it from a brittle lab curiosity into a flexible, durable material.
Following World War II, as leather and rubber became scarce across post-war Europe, PVC offered a practical alternative. Tough, waterproof, and endlessly mouldable, it found its way into plumbing, rainwear, and, eventually — into footwear. From school shoes to seaside sandals, the material became an icon of accessibility and summer style.
By the late 1970s, brands like JuJu Shoes in the UK and Grendene’s Melissa in Brazil took PVC’s low cost and water resistance and transformed it into something new: the jelly shoe. (who actually did it first is still debatable) With its signature translucent shine and candy-coloured palette, the jelly became a pop culture icon. Easy to clean, affordable, (and you could put glitter in it!), it spread quickly — helped by global exports and cheap production.
Jelly shoes hit pop culture gold in the 1990s, when they popped up on everyone from school kids to stars. My favourite, The Dude(Jeff Bridges) wore a clear pair of PVC sandals in The Big Lebowski — a quietly iconic fashion moment that added unexpected cult credibility. (check out the original trailer here)
Then came the designers. Brands like Vivienne Westwood, in collaboration with Melissa, and later Chloé, took the jelly aesthetic and dialled it up: sharper lines, sculptural forms, elevated palettes. The result? A playful but refined hybrid of nostalgia and innovation — and proof that plastic could feel poetic.
At Studio Fahy, We’ve taken a similar PVC direction, creating a capsule collection in deep cherry red translucent PVC and plexiglass/Acrylic .A pair of strappy sandals with clean geometric lines. A jelly-like clutch. Oversized sunglasses with a liquid gloss. And a sculptural, jewel-toned ring. Think: summer heat meets modernist cool.
If you're interested in a creating a PVC piece, let us know!
Pros & Cons: PVC shoes
Pros
Excellent for complex moulded shapes without stitching or assembly. Straight out the oven.
Shine & transparency: Uniquely expressive textures.
Durability: Resistant to water, cracking, and scuffing — ideal for accessories.
Cons:
Traditional PVC is fossil-fuel based and not biodegradable.
Comfort issues: Non-breathable unless perforated or lined.
Moulds can be exprensive, but unit costs are cheap.
My Recommends this week:
Documentary:
🎥 High & Low - John Galliano
A captivating look at one of fashion’s most brilliant and controversial figures. This documentary traces Galliano’s meteoric rise, dramatic fall, and complex path to redemption. A nuanced exploration of creativity, pressure, and personal transformation — and a reminder of how fashion reflects the culture that shapes it.
Check the trailer here
Online Archive:
🧱 Material Bank
An ever-expanding archive of sustainable and cutting-edge materials used in interior, fashion, and product design — with real-world samples available for designers.
Till next time…
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