Starting Five: Product Highlights [August]
Bottega Venetta, Marni, Jil Sander, Prada & Y-3
Starting Five is a new series where we spotlight recent product highlights that have caught our attention. Here at CONCEPTKICKS® we only showcase the product that moves us, that sparks excitement or conversation within the studio. Often, this product deserves a little more attention than the fleeting-likes of social media…
For some brands, they are able to delve into their archives and pull classic silhouettes to update and refresh. For others, they may enlist proven designers to instigate new lines aimed at breaking category boundaries. With heavy representation from Milan – four of our five brands have their headquarters there - and Germany, we pay homage to both the heritage and experience of the leather craft as well as the forward-thinking developments in fashion sportswear and textile recycling. Architectural forms and hyperbolic proportions play key roles in updated versions of timeless silhouettes while technological engineering is able to produce new forms of sole construction and the re-use of old materials.
Coming in tried-and-true tones of black, ecru, charcoal and off-white, this month’s selection covers everything from leather and rubber to canvas and mesh, as the world’s biggest brands continue to update their ranges in a bid for your custom. In case you missed them due to the speed of your feed, here are five product highlights that we can’t stop thinking about…
Marni Pablo Black Leather High
Crafted in Spain from premium napa calfskin leather, Marni’s latest iteration of their Pablo silhouette is minimal luxury at its finest. Perhaps best known for their extensive use of colour and print, the Italian fashion house opt for an understated appeal that relies on exaggerated measurements and high-grade materials. The stand-out feature is undoubtedly the amplified shape of the rounded toe cap, resulting in a smooth and bulbous yet angular form of the side profile.
A beige buffed leather lining provides matching quality to the internal makeup of the shoes, while subtle red accents on logo applications appear at both the rubberized heel and stitched into the tongue. The deep black leather of the upper is contrasted by an off-white lace-up closure that includes silver-tone metal eyelets, also used on the medial side panel of the sneakers.
Available here
Jil Sander Off-White Canvas Low
After joining Marni under the OTB (Only The Brave) umbrella earlier this year, Jil Sander continue to champion their stripped-back, modernist approach with each passing release. A world-renowned symbol of European refinement, the brand once again showcases their aptitude for simplicity with a new interpretation of the low profile canvas shoe.
For construction, a plimsol-like silhouette is shrouded by a triple-layered, wave formed sole unit, with additional toe cap and logo-embossed heel section. The variation of texture within the sole adds depth and interest to the shoe, with a crepe rubber midsole for functional cushioning and treaded rubber outsole in order to retain traction. The black, rubberized bulk of the sole contrasts impactfully with the clean and innocent appeal of the canvas upper; the latter also contains tonal lace closure system and chrome eyelets.
Available here
Y-3 Runner 4D IOW
After nearly two decades of fashion-thinking sportswear, it is easy to forget that Y-3 practically pioneered the athleisure aesthetic that is so commonplace in the market today. After a slew of cult hits such as the Qasa and the Kaiwa, the Yohji Yamamoto and Adidas linkup delivers the Runner 4D IOW for the new season. Aside from a small amount of white branding, the entire shoes are decked in tonal black features across multiple different fabrications.
The neoprene collar rises high above the rest of the shoe, with a scuba-esque appearance and a taped zipper closure which leads down underneath the lacing system. A technical and durable mesh comprises the majority of the upper, creating a translucent layer on top of three stripes branding and a panelled construction. For the most part this mesh reaches right down to the bottom of the foot, creating a sock-like appearance on which the Continental rubber outsole is barely visible from above. The highlight of the model is Adidas’ digitally engineered 4D midsole cushioning, which is revealed in totality towards the front of the shoe. In 2021, Y-3 continues to redefine the border between fashion and sportswear, and the Runner 4D IOW is no exception.
Available here
Prada Re-Nylon Quilted Mules
Prada’s latest offering into the world of footwear comfort arrives in the form of these charcoal-toned, quilted mules. With an upper constructed of recycled nylon and a treaded rubber sole, these shoes allow for tightening adjustment via a simple elastic toggle located at the bridge of the foot. Branding is constrained to Prada’s famed triangular logo in a rubberized version on the top of the mule - just below the toggle – as well as the brand’s typeface on a patch at the rear of the insole.
Adding a top-tier option to the ever-growing category of mules and slippers, Prada clearly recognise the need to go slightly beyond the footwear they are used to making and acknowledge the increased desire for comfort and ease within their consumer market. The use of recycled nylon is a welcome step in a world of over-consumption, and we hope the brand continues to do more in the areas of material reuse and resource management.
Available here
Bottega Veneta Tire Chelsea Boots
Bottega Veneta have spent the last 55 years slowly building a watertight reputation for expert craftsmanship and artisanal quality. From the Milanese leather specialists comes these Tire Waved-Sole Boots with their distinct architectural form. Made in Italy, the boots utilise an Ivory-coloured calfskin for the upper and waxed black rubber for both midsole and treaded outsole sections. Taking the Chelsea Boot shape beyond its traditions with a 5.5cm heel and elongated height, the boots rely on elasticated side panels within the collar for wear and removal, aided by twin pull tabs in a matching shade. The meandering edge of the rubber midsole extension leads beautifully around the strongly curved toebox to exaggerate the substantial structure of a chunky-yet-sleek leather boot offering.
Available here
