Nicole McClaughlin challenges the perception of the banal

From Nikon camera straps to Gatorade bottles, Nicole McClaughlin is changing the perception of ordinary things with her unique creations.

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Nicole McLaughlin has been wearing extravagant shoes since she was a child. “I had tons of skate shoes from Osiris, Ethnies and Vans, and those ridiculous Heelys with wheels,” she told Dazed. “But it wasn’t until I started working at Reebok that I realized how physically I could push the limits with footwear“.

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It was while studying digital media technology that McLaughlin decided to explore the possibilities of design, however it was her learning at Reebok that led her to her current role as a creator of unique elements. She is currently working as a graphic designer for the brand’s Classics line, which has seen her get involved in projects such as Vetements x Reebok Instapump Fury.

According to McLaughlin, she has always been very unconventional in the way she approaches a job. It all started in 2016 with a button-down shirt made entirely of tissue paper from Dover Street Market: “It was very difficult because I only had enough to do it. I had to be very careful not to accidentally break it.”

“There are so many amazing materials, shapes, and even colours in existing products that I feel are under-appreciated, or are something we’ve become immune to,”, explains to Dazed.

“People have probably seen these objects a million times, so I love to challenge their perception of what they know it to be by showing them the same thing, but in a way in which they’ve never seen it before.”. – Nicole McLaughlin

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The works in question range from sandals made with Nikon D2 camera straps, the well-known Carhartt slipers or a utilitarian vest made from Whole Foods shopping bags, to a chair made from Gatorade bottles. Volleyball shoes are McLaughlin’s favorite piece to date: “That was the first time I made something out of a completely round object – having no idea what the outcome would be – and I was just so surprised by the shape it was able to transform into. Plus, they’re super comfy! Once I did that I realised pretty much anything was fair game.”

#mustfollow – @nicolemclaughlin

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via: Dazed