News

Life-saving shoes

Published 3 May 2011
Events 4–9 June 2011

University of Brighton fashion student Sophia Messina has created straw shoes based on footwear that helped save the life of her grandfather on the Russian front during World War Two.

Tens of thousands of troops died in the freezing conditions during Operation Barbarossa but Italian veteran Angelo Messina survived the cold by cladding his feet and stuffing his clothes with straw.

The remnants of the Italian Army, which fought alongside the invading Germans, was eventually evacuated back to Italy.

Now, 70 years later, he has inspired his granddaughter for her collection at the Burt Brill and Cardens graduate show at the Faculty of Arts in Grand Parade, Brighton. The shoes will grace the catwalk there on 4 June and at the students’ London fashion show at the Candid Arts Trust on 9 June.

Sophia, who graduates this year with an undergraduate Masters of Design in Fashion with Business Studies, interviewed her grandfather before designing the clothes.

Sophia, 23 and from Surrey, said: "Soldiers layered their garments and built straw shoes to elevate their frostbitten feet from the snowy terrain. Many filled the linings of their jackets with newspapers and wrapped blankets around them like shawls, all in an attempt to stay warm."

Sophia Messina and the straw shoes

Her 90-year-old grandfather, also from Surrey, said: "My memories of my days as a soldier are of freezing conditions, hunger and the horror of people dying around me.

"I am proud of my granddaughter for bringing my story to light through her designs. My ordeal has never left me throughout my life and, even though the war was 70 years ago, I still remember every detail vividly."

Sophia said of the shoes: "I'm proud of my grandfather and grateful to him for helping me. Working with straw is hard on the hands – but, as I have discovered, it can certainly keep your feet warm."

For more information on the shows, go to: http://arts.brighton.ac.uk/graduate-show