It’s nice to see innovative uses for discarded material, even if the resultant product boasts heels that are right only for the runway.

“Skate or Die” is designer Isabelle Ragnarsson’s entry in the Global Footwear Awards—unsurprisingly, the winner in the “Reimagining Iconic Shoe Designs Category.”

With an upper made of reclaimed leather from worn skate shoes and heel of re-contextualized skate deck wood, Skate or Die is an homage to the pastime and a segue into high fashion.

One jury member remarks on Ragnarsson’s visionary perspective, especially regarding the fusion of sport and haute couture: “the future marriage between High Heels and Sneakers is certainly the subject of undisputed attention and studies by big Brands.”

The prototype comes from the designer’s very own hard-won use: “skate shoes get very specific holes on the side of the toes or the back from doing various tricks, but some parts are still great.”

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