Romanian designer Mihai Albu displays some of his creations Wednesday in Bucharest. Albu is scaling new heights with his 12-inch heels, the latest in a series of skyscraper shoes by the former architect.

BUCHAREST, Romania — A designer known as Romania's "shoe architect" has come out with a new pair of sandals that increase a woman's height by 12 inches.

The new shoes are being compared to skyscrapers because of their towering heels.

But the price also may have something to do with it. In a nation, where the average salary is $575 a month, the handcrafted sandals are selling for up to $1,525.

"Heels have an advantage because (many women) don't have long legs," said Mihai Albu, who's had a 20-year love affair making stilettos. "They reposition the waist," he said in an interview on Wednesday in Bucharest.

High heels have become fashionable, but Albu's are at least twice the height of ones that international designers have been flirting with for several years.

Albu, a former architect, blends math, architecture and art in his creations, which are more foot sculpture than regular footwear.

He uses French leather and encrusts it with jewels, feathers, mirrors, and taps into Romanian women's perennial love affair with high heels.

Despite the price, Albu says he has received dozens of orders for his new sandals from Romania's well-heeled.