Starting Five: Product Highlights [September]
Adieu, Balenciaga, Moncler, Reebok & Suicoke
Starting Five is a 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…
As we enter into the autumn months, with each day the weather gets a little colder and the sun sets a little earlier. With these changes in the conditions around us comes the need for adaptability in our wardrobe choices for both clothing and footwear. This month’s crop of products includes big name collaborations, technical updates on fan-favourite sneakers and a double hitter from the Alpine skiwear champions over at Moncler. The intent with all these selections is one of combining the practical needs of daily use with the continued desire for stylistic choice. In case they managed to slip under your social media radar, here are five product highlights that we can’t stop thinking about…
Adieu Type 155 Chelsea Boots
Hailing from Paris, leather footwear specialists Adieu continue their strong reputation with a sleek and modern iteration of the Chelsea boot. Every pair of shoes created by Adieu has a micro-cellular crepe sole that provides a soft and bouncy platform to add contemporary comfort to timeless silhouettes. Counting Undercover and Etudes among previous collaborations, Adieu’s range includes Loafers, Derby and Oxford shoes and a variety of sneakers and boots. The Type 155 model comes in a shiny black leather with an elasticated gusset and dual pull-loops at the heel and front of the collar for an easy-to-wear, premium shoe. As with all their products, branding is kept close to zero with only a logo placed at the heel of the inner sole. Adding approximately an inch and half, the sizeable platform and premium Portuguese construction are sure to equate to a long lifetime for the pair.
Available here
Moncler Nirmal
While best known for creating world-leading outerwear with technical superiority and an eye for combining form with function, Moncler exhibit this expertise in the footwear world in the shape of the Nirmal Low-top Sneaker. With clean-cut and stripped-back features, the Nirmal is reminiscent of the simplicity of great climbing shoes but is built with the premium materials that we have come to expect from the Alpine brand. The close-knit technical fabrication of the upper is presented by way of a considered arrangement of grips and punch holes in soft matte black rubber, buttery brown suede and complimentary accents of yellow. A drawstring closure and treaded rubber sole ensure the sneakers are fit for the demands of city-life and while branding is kept to a minimum, the metal plate logo on the upper remains a design highlight. No corners have been cut when it comes to the high production standards that Moncler hold, with the Nirmal constructed by footwear experts in the north of Italy.
Available here
Balenciaga Toe Bootie
As if Vibram’s infamous Fivefingers range wasn’t quite crazy enough, Balenciaga take it one step further with a black leather boot that utilises the same toe construction. In true Demna Gvasalia fashion, the Toe Bootie comes equipped with a suspended heel as part of a hard wearing sole unit that exemplifies the industrial standards upon which Vibram have made a name for themselves. The soft, polished calfskin leather that makes up the majority of the upper is exactly what you’d expect from a Parisian high-end label, and is perfectly composed above the technicality of TPU. Closure comes by way of a zipper on the medial side of the collar while Balenciaga branding is embossed into the heel section of the outsole. Expectedly sitting at the upper-end of the market in terms of price, it’s certainly a shoe that you won’t be able to find anywhere else and displays the originality that is required in a hectic and crowded category.
Available here
Reebok Instapump Fury GORE-TEX
Twenty-seven years after its original release, Reebok’s uniquely shaped Instapump Fury is as much a spectacle as it has even been. As Maison Margiela grabbed all the headlines when they merged their signature Tabi boot with the Fury earlier in the year, the sneaker remains one of the British shoe giants’ most divisive products. Adding a layer of high functionality to its existing construction, Reebok have updated the model with the addition of Gore-Tex Infinium across the collar and the extra stability of a carbon fibre midfoot plate. The pump fastening system has been moved to the lateral midfoot to make way for a technical zip on the bridge that aids in securing the slightly higher-cut shape. While the majority of the sole unit stays true to the original version of the shoe, a deeper layer of tread is added to the TPU outsole to improve the grip of a shoe that is built for wet weather.
Available here
Suicoke x Moncler Pepper
As part of their autumn collection for 2021, Moncler take a dive into Tokyo with a series of hard-hitting collaborative outerwear with and Wander and some serious footwear courtesy of cult favourites Suicoke. The 2 Moncler 1952 line that falls under the Moncler Genius umbrella is one that draws its strength from the considered channelling of sub-culture, and their recent interpretation of the Suicoke Pepper is a testament to that core. Featuring a rubber sole and a waterproof eVent lining, these quilted slip-on shoes are both durable and comfortable, with a drawstring toggle closure that brings the Moncler aesthetic to the footwear realm. The midsole is given a warm brown rubber crepe application, complimenting the no-fuss tonal black that makes up the majority of the shoe. A sure-bet for keeping your feet warm and dry during the colder half of the year, you won’t find a better option in the hybrid world of sneaker mules.
Available here
