SHERYL ANG




Photo credit: Iceberg 7
Wagoo
2019
Designed with Celeste Loh
Wagoo is a repair kit developed from an exploration into the versatile nature of wax sealing. Beyond proposing a plausible repair solution to worn and uneven soles, this project opens the door to investigating the unorthodox possibilities of the wax sealing process.
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Exhibited at "R for Repair" in the National Design Centre Singapore (13 Jan - 6 Feb 2021)
Details
Using the kit, users can repair worn out and uneven soles using the specially-formulated wax pellets provided. The process involves melting the wax over a tea light, pouring the mixture onto the rubber mat provided, and stamping the shoe (sole part facing down) onto the wax mixture. Once the wax mixture has solidified, one can proceed to slowly peel the rubber mat away from the shoe sole. Any excess hardened wax beyond the border of the shoe sole can be trimmed off.
A carving tool is also provided so that users can personalize their new designs for their shoe soles. Through this, we hoped to transform shoe soles from being the dirtiest part of an outfit to the starting point of a conversation.



Materials and tools in repair kit:
Tea candle, Aluminium holder, Circle mesh, Pellet bags (x3), Metal pan, Rubber stamp, Greaseproof paper, Stirrer, Carving tool
(Not provided) Lighter, Penknife, Tape
Process
This project started off by challenging the conventional understanding of repair as an objective, restoration process. The following diagram illustrates our initial exploration into how repair could be re-defined (from a designer's point of view).



All repair kits featured in the R for Repair exhibition at the National Design Centre (2020)
Photo credit: Iceberg 7