Heutchy—A Nice Story about Shoes…and More

Heutchy is the brainchild of Wells Stelberger, who aims at designing timeless footwear for men, who desire attire-appropriate shoes for any time of the day.

Wells draws inspiration from the photos of Bruce Davidson, who in the 50’s captured the life and times of young Brooklyn boys.

Several designers that appear on Men’s Fashion by Francesco collaborate with Heutchy, such as Timo Weiland, Shipley and Halmos, and Native Son.

The name Heutchy is the last name of Wells’ maternal grandfather, whom he never met but wishes to honor through this line.

See the entire line here.

Photos spring/summer 2001 collection , Copyright Heutchy, Courtesy CJ Swanton PR.

United Nude Launches Men’s Capsule Collection for Spring/Summer 2011

United Nude, a brand co-founded by architect Rem D. Koolhaas and shoemaker Galahad Clark in 2003, has been well known for pushing the boundaries of shoe design for years. The brand began with the launch of the Mobius shoe and has since developed into a well known architectural footwear brand for women sold in over 40 territories and 400 points of sale across the globe.

As United Nude has grown over the past few years in size and notoriety it became evident that the brand had almost as many male admirers as there were female, despite the fact that up until now the brand did not have any products for men. Listening to the flood of requests from our male followers, United Nude presents its first men’s capsule collection consisting of three key styles:

The Hollow, our protagonist concept launching the United Nude’s men’s collection, combines an elegant classical men’s shoe with a hollowed carbon fiber heel and leather molded outside. The shoe’s heel is prominent, but not exaggerated, and is true in its character to the architectural DNA of the United Nude brand.

The Fold is a key style in United Nude’s woman’s collection. For SS11, the Fold features a new Lo heel height for women and introduces a Men’s Fold as well.

The Universal, like the Fold, is a unisex shoe. The Universal is just that, a shoe that can be worn by men with jean’s or with dress pants and can suit nearly every situation.

About United Nude
United Nude is a brand co-founded by architect Rem D Koolhaas and shoemaker Galahad Clark. Located at the intersection of design and fashion, United Nude creates products with new shapes, new constructions and new materials, pushing the boundaries of what is possible.

The motto “exclusive by design, not by price” has allowed United Nude rapid growth becoming an international brand with a very distinctive style. In the last year a new chapter began with the opening of flagship stores in Amsterdam, New York and Shanghai and an upcoming flagship store in London!

Rem D. Koolhaas
Creative Director and Founder, Rem is a Dutch architect trained at the Technical University of Delft in Holland.

Galahad Clark
Founder, Galahad is a seventh generation shoemaker from Somerset, England where he learned the family trade.

Check out the shoes here.

Photos & text Copyright United Nude, Courtesy Surgery PR.

Elia Maurizi—Shoemaker Par Excellence

Elia Maurizi has just come out with a new collection of shoes and boots for autumn/winter 2011.

The collection is full of unisex yet rugged-looking footwear that will have no problem matching next year’s choice of styles.

Some items feature subtle floral prints, vintage effects, and furs.

See more of the new line here.

Photos Copyright Elia Maurizi.

Strayhorn by Clae—the Perfect Go-between

Here we have the perfect go-between piece of footwear for either a smart or casual occasion. The Clae Strayhorn shown here in a concrete color way is a take on a classic boot silhouette, nothing over stated of flash— just plain and simple, smart and classic.

Clae is well known for bridging the gap between athletic style and footwear for a dressier occasion and, here with the Straythorn, we have a perfect example of this.

Have a peek at a few more shots here.

Photo & text Copyright Clae, Courtesy Sane Communications.

Alison Muskat Launces New Men’s Shoe Collectin: Rockadelic!

Growing up in a family immersed in the shoe business, Alison Muskat’s world is rooted in the rich history and knowledge that is required to launch a new innovative brand that is just right for today’s contemporary market. The Rockadelic brand stems from this mastered craftsmanship and, partnered with Muskat’s leadership, this edgy men’s line is destined for success.

Rockadelic will easily fill a prominent void in the marketplace, hitting just the right spot with fashion-forward styling and a high level of quality and detailing that is unprecedented at an affordable price-point ranging from $90- $180. While we’re seeing a lot of reinterpreted styling among men’s shoes in the market these days, the core values and vision of this brand is articulated in the unique design and unrivaled execution of the product. The product is crafted from carefully selected leathers and materials with hand-worked finishes and offers men in the 22-40 age range the option to either dress up relaxed denim options or dress down more conventional styles.

“I’ve been playing around with developing different concepts and categories of men’s footwear for the last two years, sometimes with a certain brand in mind, while other times it might be a particular guy I’m thinking of. I began asking myself ‘Where’s the shoe for that guy whose been wearing sneakers for as long as he can remember?’ ‘How does the go-to denim guy dress up his jeans or dress down a suit?’ My customer does not have to wear an out-dated boring shoe that his father has been sporting. ‘Where’s his option now that he is grown up and sometimes has to dress up?’ Ultimately, once that wheel began turning, I realized there was a huge gap in the market for my designs to thrive within,” Muskat explains.

Laid-back designs, rebellious re-creations and rock n’roll attitude make up the DNA of the collection. Unexpected embellishments, including zipper details, make the shoes easy to slip on and off while adding a familiar, hip style element- even on the strappiest of boots or intricately laced high tops. Each shoe has a full-foam memory sock with Muskat favoring premium soft fabric or leather linings, dependent upon style and ease, whilst simultaneously providing fresh and edgy footwear.

Rockadelic styling mixes various elements in each distinct shoe. Muskat is heavily influenced by athletic product and has sampled many of the trends seen in athletic urban-chic styles including heavy goring, to create dress shoes with hints of athletic footwear trends. As designer and creative director for the brand, she takes classic, traditional shoes and reinvents them by using pristine finishes, exciting ornaments and material experimentation and twists them in a way that is reminiscent of styles of the past while presenting fresh new creations.

See the collection here.

Photos & text Copyright Rockadelic.

Converse—Chuck Taylor All-Mid Alternative

Converse has announced a new born classic in 2011; namely, the Chuck Taylor Mid.

We have seen the low-tops and the high-tops, so now it is time for a stylish alternative—to go midway.

Perfect for relaxed, warm summer nights—the new alternative is equipped with Mid-summer canvas.

Best of all, the new model comes in assorted colors.

Um, I think I am going to hunt a pair down…

Have a peek here.

Photos Copyright Converse.

Surface to Air: Postcards from the Edge

Postcards from the Edge
From American Puritanism to a moral decline.

This season starts with a road trip from Texas down to the Mexican border, with references from movies “From Dusk Till Dawn”, “Thelma and Louise “ and “Paris Texas.“

Further down on our road trip we find an influence from the bad boys and outlaws of the road. Inspired by their pinstripe suits, biker attire, dusty capes & tops in suede leather and linen fabrics; Mexican and Indian influences in sandy hues are used to add heat to the color palette.

With reference again to the film “From dusk till dawn”, we end the trip in this mysterious stripper bar where anything is possible: lavishness crazy, dark, hot, bad and animalistic.

Next, the allure of snake dancers, vampires and go-go dancers lead us in a seductive and glamorous component of the collection. Body conscious dresses in shiny materials with liquid and psychedelic snake prints, structured cut out dresses, transparent knits add the S2A touch of just the right amount of sportswear integrated into a sexy silhouette.

The Code of the Road
The outdoors and the biker’s way of life are the key themes of our SS11 Men’s collection. The basis of the collection remains a timeless men’s wardrobe with revisited classic pieces.

Washed out garments give the worn and sun damaged effect, while leather & suede pieces with intricate stitching provide an edgier appeal. Denim is a large part of the collection this season with all over printed and multi colored denim shirts.

Leather & waxed cotton pants and burn out denims are the perfect addition to the silhouette. Sprayed denims and denim looking fleece jackets that have a bit of a 7O’s vibe, reveal an essence of American sportswear, especially in the pima cotton mix knitwear.

Leather & waxed cotton pants and burn out denims compliment the foldable windbreakers with special engraved detailing in horn as well as outer details on tees and sweatshirts with 90’s influences.

Pastel color jersey tailoring such as suits paired with shorts and detailed mackintosh coats complete the look with a pair of destroyed chinos. Balance meets bandit is the code of the road for spring/summer 2011.

Have a look at the entire men’s collection here.

Photos & text Copyright Surface to Air.

Asher Levine: Down to the Shoes

Yesterday I posted articles on two seasonal collections by US designer, Asher Levine. I waited to post the line of shoes from the spring/summer 2011 collection on purpose, since they are so unique.

True to the designer’s hybrid techniques, the range clearly reflects his reorganization and abstraction of shape and form.

With fins projecting from the heels as an extension of man, the collection harnesses a sense of energy from the natural world, fusing it with human existence.

Enjoy the collection here.

Photos Copyright Asher Levine.

New Launch: Volta Footwear

Volta Footwear presents a capsule collection built on the Vibram® CT, a new cross-training sole developed exclusively for the Italian brand by Vibram.A

fter the introduction of the first mid-cut model called "classic" in the 2008, followed by its highly evolved “boot” in 2009, the brand is ready to launch a new concept of low shoe: it is called Street, and was created to be the next "instant classic".

The capsule [collection] consists of three colors. The materials used are 100% waterproof waxed canvas , coupled with a lightweight mesh fabric—Aernet—on the heel and tongue. The cover is as always in Italian kidskin. Berlin was the scene of the worldwide launch of “Street” buyers.

See a few more models here.

Photo & text Copyright Volta, Courtesy Maria Licci Media & PR.

Veja Indigenos by Veja

Veja presents Veja Indigenos. The new style features uncluttered lines and a classic palette of camel, brown, and navy colors.

The look book features characters coming from some of the best independent stores in Europe.

They all met at the Veja studio in Paris last June. We wanted the Indigenos look book to be a tribute to their work and vision. They represent the essence of the Indigenos style.

See more styles here.

Veja — LOOKBOOK INDIGENOS from Veja on Vimeo.

Photos & text Copyright Veja.

Paul & Betty and Sexy Rock

The 2011 spring/summer collection of Paul & Betty was presented yesterday at the showroom of the eponymous brand.

The Paul & Betty man is modeled on the same philosophy [of Paul & Betty woman, as if coming out of the 54 Club], while maintaining the basic model of the classic moccasin or derby.

The details make the difference: soles, fluorescent laces and stitching, fringes exasperated with the detail of studs, camouflage, and finally lace reinterpreted for men and combined with a black finish.

Paul & Betty aims high and is chosen by those who want to stand out thanks to the Italian aesthetic and the tradition, which that appears on the international scene and loved by fashion celebrities.

View a few more models here.

Photos Copyright Paul & Betty, Courtesy of S2B.

Ted Bakker Spring/Summer 2011

The Spring/Summer 2011 men’s collection of footwear combines optimistic explosions of colour with authentically worn ranges.

Think 1950s colour saturated Hollywood movies as the shoes overflow with colour. These Technicolor shoes are a touch of vintage with modern humour.

Classic moccasins, driving shoes, nylon running shoes, gentleman’s brogues and jazz shoes all come in brights, from Mediterranean sky blues to deep inky blues, from pale pinks to fruity raspberries, through to bright oranges, this collection of footwear is a veritable kaleidoscope of colour.

Also the leathers and suedes used are tactile, soft and deconstructed giving the shoes a fantastically summery feel.

Meanwhile, some of the men’s shoes have a used, authentic feel using warm, lived-in materials. Softly worn-out casuals have distinct signs of retro styling.

Desert boots and lace-up brogues have also been heavily burnished and unlined to create a vintage deconstructed look for Spring.

See the shoes here.

About Ted Baker
Born 1955 in North London, Raymond Stuart Kelvin founded Ted Baker in 1988. Ted Baker’s claim to fame is the company’s rise to fame: word of mouth rather than advertising!

Photos Copyright Ted Baker, Courtesy Eskimo PR.

GIO-GOI Spring/Summer 2011 Footwear

London, July 2010. Gio-Goi’s footwear collection for men and ladies radiates with bright summery colours on sport inspired styles.

For men, Gio-Goi offer best-selling continuity styles in fresh spring colours, alongside brand new summer silhouettes. Bright colour pops stand out, as do the all red, all blue and all yellow shoes, bringing the energy of the 80’s to the range.

For the first time ever, Goi-Goi are launching a range of men’s casual footwear with crepe soles and leather uppers, all within the brand’s signature urban styling. Stand-out pieces for spring are the new lightweight boots with EVA outsoles and urban inspired profiles.

Essential for hot summers, flip-flops with bold t-shirt prints and vulcanised trainers with string vest mesh material are nice and light. No men’s summer collection would be complete without a boat shoe and Gio-Goi have not forgotten this.

The late 1980s and early 1990s were heady days for the music and club scene. Manchester’s Hacienda led the way, with sounds from the likes of the Happy Mondays immortalised by Factory Records; it was into this influential youth culture that founders Chris and Anthony Donnelly launched Gio-Goi.

It wasn’t long before Gio-Goi became the label that key figureheads, in both music and the media, actively sought out. While Brit-pop favourites such as Blur and Oasis became supporters of the brand, Gio-Goi became a uniform of choice for dedicated followers of rave culture, or as it commonly became known, the second ‘Summer of Love’.

Today at 21 Gio-Goi is stronger than ever, adding denim, footwear, accessories and eyewear to its already burgeoning core range.

Gio-Goi is now worn by a new generation of rock celebrities, reinforcing the strong music heritage on which the brand was built. It is this combination that continues to produce strong growth for Gio-Goi, being awarded Draper’s Fashion Brand of the year, Fastrack 100 and Cool Brand status for the second year running.

See more models here.

Photos Copyright Gio-Goi, Courtesy Eskimo PR.

Shudy—the Ready Shoe...Shoe Ready!

Reproducing a fashion icon in a different material.
Using a synthetic material to break away from the original, as a contrast.

The readymade as a source of inspiration, in the instantaneous nature of the creative act, and similarities with cracking art, in terms of using plastic, are the cornerstones of the Shudy concept.

The readymade: an everyday object that instantaneously becomes a work of art, thanks to the intentional nature of the artist’s gesture.

Like the urinal by Marcel Duchamp (inventor of the readymade), which became a work of art precisely because it was exhibited as such for the public; like his Mona Lisa with moustache and goatee beard in L.H.O.O.Q. Existing products that lose their object status to become works of art.

Plastic, on the other hand, is the material used by the Cracking Art Group for its provocative installations: reproductions of animals made using recycled plastic and placed in historic settings or busy public areas, like streets and shopping centres.

And so we come to the ready-shoe, the shoe-ready or Shudy.

100% Made in Italy. See the colorful collection here.

Photos & text Copyright Shudy, Courtesy Blackboard.

Echoes of a Worker—from ECCO

The trends for autumn/winter 2010 have begun to take shape. “But which one for me?”

Are you going for the brilliance of shine and a slim silhouette, or are you assisting the revival of the drop crotch pants?

In Denmark, we are hearing the sounds of the worker’s uniform—with ECCO.

First in line for a vintage flair is the Stripe boots, which offer a sporty sneaker feel but rugged enough to pair up with your favorite denim overalls. The distressed leather finish pays wonderful tribute to the simplicity of good ole’ fashion labor.

Next to punch in the clock is Terrano, the basic blue collar classic that looks and feels like an urban sneaker. Perfect for the hard-working man, this industrial look will match the most distressed denims in your closet.

Then to clock in is Radiale, a casual sneaker that pays respect to the hardest of worker but inspired by the world motor sports!

Ah! For the night shift we have Urban Light, another urban sneaker but with an edge of rebellion—perfect for dirty, damaged denims. This shoe’s comfort can help you own the streets with confidence and style!

Into any new business the fall? Then try Chicago for a tempered but asymmetrical oxford look that can help you juggle every business affair.

Not classy enough? Get a promotion with the sophistication of Windsor, which can meet the demands of any busy schedule.

Finally, for the professional man that works long hours and hectic schedules there is Trentino. The elongated toe and clean lines add the elegance of luxury to the new business style.

Have a look here at the shoes.

Photos Copyright Ecco.

Alpargata Shoes from Paez

Here’s a fun, funky, fair-trade abiding shoe company called Paez (pronounced as ‘pice’), which specializes in a compfortable shoe named alpargatas!

Alpargatas, which are a lightweight shoe made out of canvas, are said to have been brought to Argentina about 1830 by Basque immigrants. (Paez alledges that alpargatas originated in Egypt as a sandal.)

Originally available only in black and white, Paez alpargatas now come in a rainbow of colors—as they are manufactured totally in Argentina.

Photos Copyright Paez.

Elia Maurizi Spring/Summer 2011 Collection

Now in its fourth collection, “Elia Maurizi” not only proposes an original, fun and character-filled unisex footwear line, but he also looks way beyond the shoe itself, concentrating his attention also on the world of design, enhancing its value during the “Who’s on Next” competition organised last year by Alta Roma, Pitti Immagine Uomo and Uomo Vogue.

This year, he himself defined the path to follow as “I Wanna Be Frisbee”. For this collection, Elia gets his inspiration from the outskirts of towns, i.e. “suburbia”, which sprang up in America around the 1950s-’60s, focusing his attention on the lifestyle of the average American and on the care freeness which marked that period.

This year, Elia Maurizi will team his collection with a genuine line of beach “Frisbees”, and another line of fun scarves to match his footwear collection. There are three styles to choose from:

Dear Bill
Inspired by the man who worked the soil, when manual labour and contact with nature ruled. The lasts are soft and reassuring. The materials are natural and soft, with woven or micro-perforated processing. The colours tell of the past, winking at the present with a touch of irony.

Little Susanne
The journey proceeds along “Coney Island” beach, on those endless days of summer sun. The footwear is inspired by the faraway “espadrilles”, revamped with the processing of the hides and the new and authentic “vintage” finishing which distinguishes it. The colours of the hides recall those of the soil and beach (“the soft dream”).

I Meet Walter
Set in the garden of an usual house of “Monroe” (UTAH), where Walter Morrison, i.e. the inventor of the flying disc, played with his wife with a metal pie tin. This line is distinguished by uppers with through holes which recall the roundness of the mythical Frisbee, reinterpreting past taste with a modern feel. Suede leathers with two-tone cuts yet not with relaxing colours and white rubber soles with a vague “street” appeal.

Photos Copyright Antonio Maurizi.

WORLD—the New Line of Casual-Chic Shoes by Ferragamo

Acumen Fund will receive a percentage of the sales from the new line of bio-friendly shoes, which was presented at Milan Fashion Week.

The world of Salvatore Ferragamo—the aesthetic and stylistic vision and the sensitivity in promoting a distinct lifestyle that is harmonious, sustainable, respectful of the environment, and socially responsible—is summed up in Ferragamo WORLD.

The line inaugurates a partnership with the non-profit Acumen Fund, which engages in the fight against world poverty in Asia and Africa and to which Salvatore Ferragamo will contribute a percentage of the sales from Ferragamo WORLD.

Ferragamo WORLD, the new line of 2011 spring/summer shoes presented at Milan Fashion Week, is a merger between modernity and the values represented by the brand: a collection of shoes characterized by a casual, sophisticated, and functional mood that bears the Ferragamo tradition in a search for style and comfortable structures.

Ferragamo WORLD incarnates the environmental and social sensitivity that is ever expanding in the world today. It was conceived for an active and dynamic public that applies its attitude of social awareness in all aspects of its purchasing behavior, seeing Ferragamo shoes not only as an accessory of style and extreme quality but also as a product that is representative of its own coherent values.

“Italian City Casual” is the expression that synthesizes the spirit of Ferragamo WORLD: a casual product searching for the urban lifestyle, which is inspired by the Italian way of life that is traditionally evoked by the relaxation of open spaces; by long walks in the city; by the use of the bicycle as the means of sustainable urban transportation; by the care for detail; and by a comfortable, portable elegance.

Photos & Text Copyright Ferragamo.

Flash Night with Paul & Betty

Innovative. Intriguing. Intelligent. On June 20, Paul & Betty is hosting a Flash Night party at the Beach Club in Milan, Italy, to present the 2011 spring/summer menswear collection.

In a New Yorkesque disco style of the 1970’s and 80’s, the Wharolistic night of magic and surrealistic fun will include a suggestive spectacle of laser lights, smoke, and foam—all of which are designed to immerse you into the colorful spirit of the new collection.

On the basis of classic models, the men’s line flows into a neon disco of mixed fluorescent colors.

The collection spans a gamut of Brogues named Jerry, Daniel, and Jack. Sandals are named Simon, while sneakers are called Alvin. Then, there are slipons with the name of Albert and refined moccasins, David.

Flash Night with Paul & Betty—don’t miss it!

Photos Courtesy S2B Copyright Paul & Betty.

Digging Deeper into Capoeira

Last year I published an article on an athletic shoe called Paraná, which was inspired by Capoeira—an Afro-Brazilian art form that combines martial arts, dance, and rhythmic motion to the beat of drums: Paraná, Capoeira & Italian Football.

This Saturday while attending a street festival in the small historic town of Princeton, New Jersey, located just 50 minutes outside New York city, I met a group of performers who belong to Senzala Princeton University.

Although Capoeria dates back hundreds of years, Grupo Senzala was founded in the Sixties by two brothers, Rafael and Paulo Flores Viana, in Rio de Janeiro.

The movement soon expanded throughout the Americas and Europe, spreading to the New York area. The Princeton group was founded by Mestre Zumbi, who began training at the age of nine.

For additional information or to watch movies of Capoeira Senzala, click here.



Photo & slideshow Copyright Men's Fashion by Francesco.