Lexx Hoggett

The Path of Scarlet Skin investigates how craft, narrative, and material exploration can generate objects that hold symbolic meaning within both fictional and real-world contexts.

This six-piece avant-garde footwear collection centres on elongated, sharply pointed silhouettes that amplify the wearer’s movement and create a striking visual presence. Designed for a statement rather than the everyday, the shoes occupy a space between fashion experimentation and couture.

The collection required developing new last shapes capable of supporting extreme proportions while maintaining balance and refinement. Each design references classical men’s footwear forms such as Oxfords, Derby’s, pumps, and boots offering a sense of familiarity, which is then disrupted through exaggeration.

These design choices are framed through the narrative of The Path of Scarlet Skin, a fictional cult informed by historical cults and secret societies whose rituals and symbolism guide the collection’s aesthetic language.

In a contemporary market where men’s footwear often recycles predictable shapes with minimal variation, this project responds by revisiting historical extremes such as medieval poulaines and reimagining their dramatic silhouettes for modern use. Through blending historical reference, narrative construction, and experimental form, the collection positions Lexx Francis within an space of craft-driven avant-garde design.