For Dubai-based artist and designer Diviya Tilani, footwear serves as far more than a functional necessity; it is a medium for storytelling. With a professional background spanning fine art—including oil, acrylic, watercolor, and gouache—as well as historical costume construction and film work, such as her role as a costume designer assistant on the series Nevsky, Tilani brings a multidisciplinary approach to her bespoke creations. She is a graduate of the St. Petersburg Stieglitz State Academy of Art and Design and currently serves as a resident artist and co-founder of Design Dome at City Walk, Dubai, a hub that integrates art, music, fashion, and community.
Tilani’s creative identity is deeply rooted in her family’s legacy of design and textiles, with ancestral ties to Kazakhstan. This heritage, combined with a fascination for the Silk Road, nomadic cultures, and global architecture, informs her work. By applying these influences to footwear, she transforms mass-produced shoes into unique, hand-painted, and embellished pieces. Her designs often incorporate intricate details like sequins, rope, threads, and trinkets, or imagery ranging from desert sunsets to personal motifs.
Addressing the motivation behind her craft, Tilani notes that many people are moving away from mass-market trends in favor of individual expression. She explains that consumers today want to leave a personal mark on their belongings, whether they are adults or children. By offering customization, she provides an alternative to wearing identical, factory-made styles, allowing each pair of sneakers to carry a distinct signature.
The process of creating these wearable works of art is highly collaborative. When clients provide a plain pair of sneakers, Tilani works with them to select designs that resonate with their personal history. Requests often include initials, significant dates, favorite flowers, animals, or specific characters. To ensure the longevity of these custom pieces, she utilizes specialized leather dyes and finishes each project with a protective, waterproof coating, balancing aesthetic appeal with durability.
Tilani’s influence extends to corporate partnerships, where she incorporates company logos into custom footwear for brand merchandise. She finds that Dubai’s environment, which celebrates bold fashion and individuality, provides an ideal backdrop for her practice. Her previous Bespoke Sneaker Fair at Design Dome allowed visitors to browse pre-made designs or bring their own leather footwear for custom modification, highlighting how a personal touch can elevate an entire outfit.
Reflecting on her artistic process, Tilani emphasizes that inspiration is found everywhere, from the details of daily life to historical narratives. She encourages those interested in commissioning a pair to embrace their own stories, suggesting that the most compelling designs are those that reflect the wearer’s memories, passions, or favorite places. As she continues her work at Design Dome, Tilani remains focused on the idea that while fashion trends are fleeting, the desire for items that feel uniquely personal is a lasting pursuit. The report also notes that inspired by Central Asian heritage and shaped by a family with generations of experience in design and textiles – she comes from a family of artists and entrepreneurs with deep roots in Kazakhstan, a heritage that informs both her creative practice and the spaces she helps create – Design Dome also lets Tilani and her family bring a piece of their Kazakh heritage to Dubai. The report also notes that how has living and creating here influenced your designs. The report also notes that our concepts align well with local brands, in this respect. The report also notes that most often, everyone comes with a unique request, and I help them choose the option that would suit them best. The report also notes that we can add initials or a special date.
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