The satin-finished Roma Armor for women is quirky yet wearable (Photo: PUMA)
Footwear is venturing beyond the confines of casual comfort, making its way to fashion’s most notable tastemakers. No longer just good ol’ wardrobe staples, a pair of snazzy sneakers – embellished with premium materials and unique stylings – are statement pieces that can elevate your look.
Celebrity crossovers are bridging the gap between luxury and functionality, while introducing the wit and identity of the designer. But not all collaborations are created equal. Here are three co-branded projects that are actually worth the hype.
Donald Glover x Adidas Originals
Last month, Donald Glover (or you might know him as Childish Gambino) and Adidas Originals unveiled a range of new sneakers alongside the premiere of a series of short films. Glover’s participation reimagines three classic Adidas footwear styles, namely the Nizza, Continental 80 and Lacombe, in subtle, tone-on-tone white canvas.
The design concept focused on the wealth of experiences worn-in sneakers can hold. As such, the shoes feature a series of deconstructed and ‘distressed’ details, like uneven stitching, inside-out golden eyestays, and a custom three-stripe mark that evokes hand-painting. The overarching theme of the short films reflect Glover’s appreciation for how shoes evolve with wear and express more personality over time. They’re not ‘dirty’, but rather the reflection of one’s personal experiences.
KARL LAGERFELD x PUMA
In recent years, PUMA has made significant effort in expanding its sport influence into street culture and fashion through a number of collaborations, which include Alexander McQueen, Solange Knowles and Rihanna. Now, PUMA is releasing two new collectible sneakers in collaboration with the late Karl Lagerfeld’s self-named fashion house.
The house of KARL LAGERFELD boasts the late founder’s iconic design aesthetic, which combines Parisian classics with a rock-chic attitude. Together with PUMA, the two new special-edition sneakers — a unisex Roma and a satin-finished Roma Armor for women — are a fusion between PUMA’s streetwise swagger and Lagerfeld’s classic sophistication with bold and quirky accents. The KARL LAGERFELD x PUMA sneakers retail at RM575 and will be available nationwide at PUMA outlets in KLCC, Sunway Pyramid and Sky Avenue.
Pharrell x Chanel
The Chanel Pharrell collaboration is a meld of worlds we never saw coming. Bringing in colourful streetwear to the luxury house, the urban capsule collection presents a range of footwear in vibrant colours and embellishments, in addition to clothing and accessories. The collection’s stylish footwear features white trainers with colourful accents, scribbles and patches as well as slides and loafers plated with the musician’s name.
The music mogul reimagines the maison’s signature CC and number five logos in the designs. The importance of the iconic number – now designed in graphic and bejewelled fonts – is explained in a behind-the-scenes video of the Akira-inspired Chanel campaign shoot. Unveiled at Chanel’s new flagship boutique in Seoul, the collection is now available on our shores in KLCC.
