PADAM Bloc Heels
Prize(s):
WINNER 2026 FASHION DESIGN / Footwear: Fashion Shoes
Company Name:MARAZ
Lead Designer(s) Name(s):Les Ateliers MARAZ
Design Team / Other designer(s):Moustapha Sy NDIAYE, Abdourahmane PENE
Other Contributor(s):Olivia Codou NDIAYE, Amadou SARR
Manufacturer Name:MARAZ
Distributors Name:MARAZ
Photo Credit:Olivia Codou
Project Location:Dakar, Senegal
Design Status:Commercialized
Website: View
Video URL:View
Project Description:
The PADAM Bloc Heels were born from a clear intention: to create a heel that is instantly recognizable, feminine, and boldly creative. An evolution of our iconic PADAM sandal, the design plays with contrast in heritage and innovation, softness and structure, function and fashion. The PADAM story runs deeper than style. This ancestral model comes from a shared heritage between Mauritania, Mali, and Senegal, echoing back to ancient Egypt. Born from nomadic hands, it was once the sandal of necessity, crafted from whatever materials were found along the journey: leather skins, recycled tires and rubber, wood, and more. A humble object, worn by the "poor," yet rich in ingenuity, resilience, and freedom. Spanning ages and territories, PADAM has endured as a symbol of movement and adaptability. With the PADAM Bloc Heels, we give this historic form new life and value. The aspiration: to create a heel that feels powerful and wearable, where memory becomes design, and design becomes a statement.
The PADAM Bloc Heels were born from a clear intention: to create a heel that is instantly recognizable, feminine, and boldly creative. An evolution of our iconic PADAM sandal, the design plays with contrast in heritage and innovation, softness and structure, function and fashion. The PADAM story runs deeper than style. This ancestral model comes from a shared heritage between Mauritania, Mali, and Senegal, echoing back to ancient Egypt. Born from nomadic hands, it was once the sandal of necessity, crafted from whatever materials were found along the journey: leather skins, recycled tires and rubber, wood, and more. A humble object, worn by the "poor," yet rich in ingenuity, resilience, and freedom. Spanning ages and territories, PADAM has endured as a symbol of movement and adaptability. With the PADAM Bloc Heels, we give this historic form new life and value. The aspiration: to create a heel that feels powerful and wearable, where memory becomes design, and design becomes a statement.
Project Innovation / Specification:
Our PADAM Bloc Heels reimagine our bestselling PADAM sandal by taking it, quite literally, to the next level. This heeled version preserves the soul of the original: our iconic leather sandal frame, hand-stitching, and our signature leather pompom anchored by a wooden disc. The innovation lies in the heel. Designed front and back with generous, rounded volumes, it evokes a soft pneumatic silhouette, a direct nod to an early PADAM iteration crafted from recycled tires and rubber. This reference to material history is reinterpreted through a contemporary, fashion-forward lens. The result is a bold yet balanced design: ergonomic, stable, and remarkably comfortable despite its sculptural presence. Vibrant colors amplify its character, bridging craftsmanship and modern expression. The PADAM Bloc Heels stand as a fashion evolution of a traditional model: where heritage, sustainability cues, and playful design meet confident femininity.
Our PADAM Bloc Heels reimagine our bestselling PADAM sandal by taking it, quite literally, to the next level. This heeled version preserves the soul of the original: our iconic leather sandal frame, hand-stitching, and our signature leather pompom anchored by a wooden disc. The innovation lies in the heel. Designed front and back with generous, rounded volumes, it evokes a soft pneumatic silhouette, a direct nod to an early PADAM iteration crafted from recycled tires and rubber. This reference to material history is reinterpreted through a contemporary, fashion-forward lens. The result is a bold yet balanced design: ergonomic, stable, and remarkably comfortable despite its sculptural presence. Vibrant colors amplify its character, bridging craftsmanship and modern expression. The PADAM Bloc Heels stand as a fashion evolution of a traditional model: where heritage, sustainability cues, and playful design meet confident femininity.
Project Sustainability Approach:
The PADAM Bloc Heels embrace a circular and conscious design approach that turns waste into desire. Crafted from high-quality leather scraps sourced from local markets, each pair gives new life to exceptional materials otherwise destined to be discarded. This process creates fun, unexpected patterns and vibrant color combinations, resulting in truly limited pieces. The defining signature of the PADAM series is a custom ebony wood disc, mindfully crafted from wood scraps. Mounted on a leather fringe that fans out like sun rays or flower petals, this detail transforms the PADAM into a striking testament to both artistry and resourcefulness. By embracing a circular approach, we give new life to exceptional materials, celebrating creativity, craftsmanship, and conscious design in every step. By reusing materials with care and intention, sustainability becomes a creative force, not a limitation.
The PADAM Bloc Heels embrace a circular and conscious design approach that turns waste into desire. Crafted from high-quality leather scraps sourced from local markets, each pair gives new life to exceptional materials otherwise destined to be discarded. This process creates fun, unexpected patterns and vibrant color combinations, resulting in truly limited pieces. The defining signature of the PADAM series is a custom ebony wood disc, mindfully crafted from wood scraps. Mounted on a leather fringe that fans out like sun rays or flower petals, this detail transforms the PADAM into a striking testament to both artistry and resourcefulness. By embracing a circular approach, we give new life to exceptional materials, celebrating creativity, craftsmanship, and conscious design in every step. By reusing materials with care and intention, sustainability becomes a creative force, not a limitation.
Local and Regional Impacts of the Project:
Beyond the object, the project is part of a wider commitment of our brand and company, to local and regional impact. Rooted in an inherited leather craftsmanship passed down through generations, the project preserves and values traditional know-how while pushing it forward through contemporary design. By working locally, we create skilled jobs, nurture new opportunities, and support artisanal ecosystems that give meaning to making. Each pair embodies shared pride, pride for those who craft it and for those who wear it. Designed from us, shaped by our heritage, and made for the world, our PADAM Bloc Heels celebrate craft as a living, evolving force.
Beyond the object, the project is part of a wider commitment of our brand and company, to local and regional impact. Rooted in an inherited leather craftsmanship passed down through generations, the project preserves and values traditional know-how while pushing it forward through contemporary design. By working locally, we create skilled jobs, nurture new opportunities, and support artisanal ecosystems that give meaning to making. Each pair embodies shared pride, pride for those who craft it and for those who wear it. Designed from us, shaped by our heritage, and made for the world, our PADAM Bloc Heels celebrate craft as a living, evolving force.
