Month: February 2021

Daniel Lee is bringing Bottega Veneta into the hustle and bustle of fashion’s “what to be seen in” crowd, with footwear styles such as its unmissable and viral Puddle Boots or the heavy-duty pairs from Fall 2020 dominating looks last season. Now, the label continues the momentum with its latest offering from the Salon 01 collection, introducing a Barefoot second-skin style and a sandal that’s modeled on the aforementioned Puddle Boot.Starting with the Barefoot style, the pair positions Bottega Veneta further into the world of functionality and techwear. While this was somewhat seen with its just-dropped slip-on sneakers, the elements couldn’t be clearer here as the style features an entire body — sole included — made using Barefoot technology which hugs the foot like a second skin, all while maximalizing comfort and performance. Available in sizes for all, the pair comes in vibrant hues such as “Yellow/Red/Green” and “Red/Green/Blue,” while the inner slip-on component is also available in tones of brown and bright green.In contrast to the futuristic Barefoot pair, Bottega Veneta also presents the Puddle Boot as an entirely new concept. While visual cues nod to the popular boot — for example its rounded toe and the smooth body — it’s vastly different thanks to the low-cut style, sling-back heel support, tongue feature, and flat sole bed.The sandal is made from a biodegradable polymer base which adds a level of sustainability to the pair, and contributes to the sandal’s uniquely smooth aesthetic that presents colors such as brown, blush pink, and cream. Take a look at the Bottega Veneta shoe styles from the Salon 01 collection above, and pre-order everything from the Daniel Lee-designed collection on Bottega Veneta’s website from February 25.For more futuristic footwear, check out the latest installment of Sole Mates in which Mr. Bailey professes his love for the Nike ISPA Road Warrior.

East London’s Helen Kirkum and world-renowned sportswear giant Reebok are back together once again, following on from 2019’s Sole Fury collection with an even more limited Helen Kirkum x Reebok Advanced Concepts Zig Kinetica II.Naturally, Kirkum’s approach is sustainable and forward-thinking. By using leftover materials from the initial Sole Fury collection, she has been able to craft 20 pairs of Zig Kinetica IIs by hand. Speaking on the collaborative process, Kirkum said, “The sneakers are a story not only through Reebok silhouettes but also of our journey so far with Reebok, and a history of our collaboration… They carry memories of the previous collaboration whilst inviting you in to be a part of the next one, celebrating wearing and making in a playful way.”As a result of reflecting on history, you’ll find a range of 20 different sneakers that each feature different fabrics from the past. With this in mind, some of the sneakers may have slight differences from foot to foot, or in the case of pair 18, a complete variation in the pattern as the medial eyestay had to be replaced for something entirely different. With this in mind, you’re guaranteed to have a pair of sneakers that are completely one-off, handmade and designed by Kirkhum before being mounted to their soles in Reebok’s Boston HQ.Accompanying each pair is a limited-edition catalog created by the London agency The Midnight Club, as well as a hand-written note from Kirkum sharing insight into why she made that particular pair. All 20 of the Helen Kirkum x Reebok Advanced Concepts Zig Kinetica II sneakers will be available to purchase on February 25 at 3 p.m. GMT (10 a.m EST) through a dedicated website, and all of the 20 pairs are available in a US 9/UK 8/EU 42 only, costing £350 GBP apiece (approx. $490 USD).For more on sneaker creativity, check out the latest installment of Sole Mates. This time around, we speak with sneaker and product designer Mr. Bailey about his love for the Nike ISPA Road Warrior.

After collaborating as part of last year’s 1460 Remastered project, NEEDLES and Dr. Martens have now reunited. The latest release focuses on a different silhouette, as the Japanese label focuses on the 2976 Chelsea boot, becoming the first brand to ever collaborate on the silhouette.The resulting capsule features two takes on the boot, each of which features NEEDLES’ Americana-influenced aesthetic alongside Dr. Martens’ footwear heritage. The collaborative Made in England 2976 Chelsea boot comes in either “Black Smooth” or “Cherry Red” leather, each of which features a horsebit across the front, designed in silver on the black colorway and “Antique Gold” on the “Cherry Red” design.Other features of the collaborative boot include NEEDLES’ “Papillon” butterfly logo — appearing on the heel of the shoe — and a NEEDLES tassel that hangs from the horsebit. The design is then finished with a dual-banded sock liner and a black and yellow heel loop.Take a look at the “Black Smooth” and “Cherry Red” colorways in the gallery above. The collaborative NEEDLES 2976 Chelsea boots are due to release on February 27 via the Dr. Martens web store.In case you missed it, Clarks Originals has created the Trek Taiyo, fusing mule and chukka designs.