LUXURY SNEAKERS!

This cohesive blend between luxury brands and the streetwear scene has been a catalyst for many an upcoming brand, and there has been a proliferation of new kids that have parlayed this blend into a new category. Common Projects, Clae, Creative Recreation and Gourmet have taken their home-grown street motif and flipped the scene to a more mature, if not totally exclusive price tag. By incorporating premium textiles and high-fashion fabrications into current thinking, a new mass of potential has culminated drawn from various demographics as they slowly exit the more youthful sports brand scene dominated by Nike and others.

Another case in point is Kanye West! Unabashed in his own right, the self-proclaimed ‘Louis Vuitton Don’ has teamed up with the French luxury house to create a bevy of new models. Whilst avid Kanye fans are boasting their undying pledge to splurge on this summer’s most highly anticipated release, some are curious as to know where the concept and inspiration originated.

The most notable model seen thus far has to be West’s monochromatic red pair which features an interesting flap located on the upper heel. Apparently this was con­structed for tucking in your pants and saving the cuffs from dragging in the dirt. According to West, the inspiration came from a jacket with a huge collar that he saw in the movie ‘Dune’. However, some female sneaker enthusiasts here in NYC have already branded the Kanye’s as a reconstructed spin-off of various different models.