LUXURY SNEAKERS!

Established in 1854, Louis Vuitton started out making suitcases for the French aristocracy. Humble beginnings they were not, but by no means is Vuitton a humble company. By 1896 they had launched patents on their monogram, ensuring that by the mid 20th Century, they were the world’s largest and most prestigious travel-goods company. Yes, they may be the oldest house in the game, but Louis Vuitton remains a formidable contender at the forefront of luxury fashion design. With regular detours into new markets and product development, entering the footwear biz was an inevitability as this rolling stone gathers as much moss as it possibly can...

Up until the mid-to-late ‘90s, the sight of luxury athletic footwear remained sporadic throughout the streets of NYC. Sneaker enthusiasts with a mean eye would often find themselves on active patrol scanning high-fashion stores. One particular favourite was the highly recogniz­able America’s Cup shoes by Prada, another was Gucci’s hugely successful series of canvas monogram sneakers.

Like any hot trend, consumers gravitate in search of the next best thing and then move on after a period as they become jaded or another flame appears. However, designers and couturiers aren’t willing to let consumers lose interest in their brands that easily. With the likes of Alber Elbaz (Lanvin), John Galliano (Dior), Jean-Paul Gaultier (Hermes) and Vuitton’s very own Marc Jacobs – the potential creative playing-field has broadened, seeping into the streetwear demographic wholeheartedly.

ARTICLE by TEE FISHER