In Tracing the Sole, May Haydar explores how a creative inheritance takes shape through memories, stories, and habits passed between generations. Inspired by her father’s work as a shoemaker, the collection traces the influence of his craftsmanship on her own creative identity. As the youngest of four daughters, many of her memories of him reached her through her sisters, making their recollections part of the relationship she carries into her work.

In the collection, shoemaking patterns and construction methods find new expression in clothing. Draping draws on the shaping of material around a shoe last, while fluting and pintucks echo the precision and repetitive handwork of his craft. Braiding evokes the bond between father and daughter and the intertwining of their creative lives; silkscreen prints preserve traces of his world on the garments.

Cotton and soft canvas lend structure, while velvety wool and suede-like textures recall the tactile language of shoemaking. Transparent pleated fabric and fluid crepe introduce fragility and movement, holding the uncertainty of memory alongside the solidity of craft. In navy, olive, light green, and white, the collection gives form to an inheritance carried through both making and memory.