There are lots of people we’d ask if we were seeking advice about how to clean suede shoes, but until we saw this video none of them were leading Jamaican reggae singers. Vybz Kartel’s hit tune ‘Clarks’ has already attracted lots of mainstream attention because of the apparent contrast between the reggae scene and the family-owned, West-Country-based shoe brand he eulogises, but his maintenance hints, 80 seconds into the video, have so far gone unheralded. (more…)
July 8th, 2010
There are many reasons to admire the legendary Dutch footballer Johan Cruyff. He was the master of “Total Football”, he had his own “turn”; he was named European Footballer of the Year three times; he refused to go to the 1978 World Cup in protest at Argentina’s military dictatorship; he won the European Cup as coach of Barcelona; he smoked. (more…)
May 20th, 2010
If you’re looking for an alternative to the usual contenders for canvas sneakers this summer, try these rather fine offerings from hip Italian footwear brand Volta. (more…)
May 10th, 2010
Celebrated British artist Liam Gillick has designed a pair of shoes for fashion label Clemens en August, which will be on sale in London as part of their international tour next week (no, we didn’t know shoes went on tour either —wonder what’s on their rider). (more…)
April 30th, 2010
Shoes, Style, The fashion cupboard
When two champions of design simplicity – Edwin, the Japanese denim specialists, and Folk, acclaimed London-based purveyors of superior knits and lovingly produced menswear – come together, you can guarantee the results will be anything but fussy. The new range of Edwin Folk shoes are a case in point; 100 per cent leather with a half cuff of classic Edwin selvage denim on the rear, introducing just the right amount of pleasing detail to the classic Shofolk silhouette. Nothing brash, just simple and effective – as most great things are. £150, www.thethreethreads.com
December 15th, 2009
Sneaker design is a long way from Easy Rider but then Dennis Hopper has long been something of a renaissance man. His latest project is this re-design of Italian brand Hogan’s wildly popular Interactive trainer; only 99 pairs of which have been made, and proceeds go to American art charity LAND. £225, www.hoganworld.com
November 27th, 2009
Now that the nation’s pavements are covered in decomposing leaves, and its parks are wet and muddy, it’s time to change gear (both literally and metaphorically) in footwear terms. (more…)
November 18th, 2009
Shoes, Style, The fashion cupboard
In 1914, the seven-year-old Ed Viberg arrived in Canada from his native Sweden. His father owned a farm and Ed went on to make his name as a skilled harness maker before expanding his repertoire to include work boots in the 1930s. (more…)
November 12th, 2009
