Victor Vulpe - Romania Osaka Expo 2025

Victor Vulpe, world vice-champion in shoemaking at London 2023, will bring to Osaka an exhibition that pushes the boundaries of fashion, art and sustainability. Visitors will be able to explore the ‘Highway’ collection in an interactive setting, inspired by the aesthetics of the 1920s and 1930s but reinterpreted through the lens of contemporary innovation.

Victor Vulpe, a PhD student from the West University of Timisoara, will represent the institution at the World Expo Osaka 2025, being present at the Romanian Pavilion from September to October 2025. With a solid reputation in the field of handmade luxury shoes, Victor Vulpe will bring the Highway Collection to the international public’s attention, along with pieces that have won awards at prestigious competitions.

World Expo Osaka 2025 has as its central theme “Designing Future Society for Our Lives", promoting innovation and sustainability in modern society. In this context, the concept proposed by Victor Vulpe emphasizes the idea that art is not static, but evolves and adapts, just like society does. The shoe becomes not just an item of footwear, but a form of artistic expression, combining tradition with innovation and promoting a sustainable future.

Each pair of shoes designed by Victor Vulpe is a bridge between the past and the future, providing visitors with a unique experience where high-quality craftsmanship meets modern sustainable techniques.

“Highway” Collection: An Example of Sustainability and Applied Art

“Highway" collection is an essential component of Victor Vulpe’s doctoral work and demonstrates his commitment to artistic and academic excellence. The shoes are made from vegetable tanned cowhide, water-based adhesives, wooden nails and linen thread, completely excluding the use of synthetics or exotic leathers.

Thanks to the exquisite quality of materials and craftsmanship, Victor Vulpe’s shoes have a durability of more than 20 years, reducing the environmental impact of fast-fashion. A simple calculation shows that one pair of shoes made by Victor Vulpe can replace 20 pairs of industrially produced shoes, underlining the ecological and fully sustainable value of his creations.

“Highway” collection consists of 7 one-of-a-kind shoes, each accompanied by its original watercolor sketch. In addition to these, the two shoes that competed at the World Championship of Shoemaking in London, where Victor came 4th in 2019 and 2nd in 2023, will be on display.

1.          Highway Collection:

• Composition: 7
• Each shoe will be accompanied by watercolors of their sketches, adding an artistic and customized element to the presentation.

2.          The shoes of the World Shoemaking Championship:

• 2019: The shoe that got 4th
• 2023: The shoe that got 2nd place.
• This footwear duo will highlight Victor’s outstanding achievements in international

Presentation modules and practical demonstrations

In addition to the exhibition, Victor Vulpe will hold 6 interactive modules, giving the public the opportunity to discover the art of luxury shoemaking and the complex process behind the designing of a bespoke shoe. These modules include:

1. How to build a shoe – overview;
2. Bespoke shoe concept – uniqueness, process, differences from industrial production;
3. Measurements and execution of shoe molds – the importance of customization;
4. Vamp design – aesthetics and proportions;
5. Tailoring – how to cut the leather for the perfect piece;
6. Live demonstration – techniques of shaping on the shoe mold, finishing and shoe painting (patina).

These modules will be designed for different time durations: 30 min, 45 min and 60 min.

   Victor Vulpe’s participation at the World Expo Osaka 2025 is an exceptional opportunity to showcase Romanian craftsmanship excellence and to promote the West University of Timisoara in an international context. Through his demonstrations, Victor will offer visitors an exciting foray into the world of bespoke shoes, a field that combines tradition and innovation with the art of luxury manufacturing.

Recognized internationally for his craftsmanship, Victor will bring to the public a series of presentations and demonstrations highlighting the complexity and elegance of this craft.