Looks like everyone from Donald Glover to “it” girl brand Reformation is taking a turn at getting their feet wet
Words by NANDITA KHANNA, MARIE LOOK and CAROLYN MEERS
Cuyana x Amanu
Making its first foray into footwear, San Francisco-based minimalist label Cuyana has teamed up with made-to-measure sandal brand Amanu on two pairs of handcrafted shoes. Cut to order in Amanu’s West Hollywood studio (in 30 minutes or less) or available online, styles include Amanu’s Style 6, an elegant slip-on, and Style 7, a strappy yet minimal flat arriving May 17 — both available in python, crocodile or vachetta leather. “[This] felt like the most natural partnership,” says Amanu founder and stylist Anita Patrickson. “Both brands believe and operate within a model of sustainability; both value craftsmanship and living a life (and a wardrobe) with fewer, better things.” Secure your own pair at the Cuyana x Amanu pop-up at Palisades Village through May 12 (before it moves on to New York) or online through June 16. Cuyana Pacific Palisades, 15235 Palisades Village Lane, Pacific Palisades, 424-229-5947.
Donald Glover for Adidas
Multi-hyphenate talent Donald Glover (that would be award-winning musician, actor and director) has picked a new realm to dominate: fashion. On April 26, the visionary, along with Adidas Originals, globally launched Donald Glover Presents, a creative partnership that has been in the works since last fall. For the collaboration, Glover, whose track “This is America” earned four Grammys, reimagined three of the sportswear brand’s classic shoe styles: the Nizza, the Lacombe and the Continental 80, all presented in deconstructed white canvas. Glover also served as the creative force behind a series of complementary short films, viewable online, that celebrate defiance and subversion, with actor Mo’Nique co-starring alongside the Atlanta creator. “With this project, I wanted to encourage people to think about how their stories can be told on their feet,” Glover said in a press release. “The partnership for me is about being able to exemplify what doing your own thing truly looks and feels like.”
Reformation
Reformation founder Yael Aflalo has always been two steps ahead of everyone else. From the tiny backroom of an L.A. shop, Aflalo has turned her cool-girl brand into a $100 million business, dreaming up a little something for everyone, whether it’s a vintage-inspired midi dress with a ruffled hemline, sustainably made denim or swimwear — all made from deadstock fabric or consciously sourced abroad. Now, after fielding a flurry of requests from customers, the label is finally getting into shoes. Today, Ref launches 11 ’90s-inspired styles, ranging from espadrilles to kitten-heel sandals. And as with the rest of the line, it’s putting the environment first, which means using chrome-free leather and jute. “While there’s definitely been a shift in the fashion industry toward sustainability since the launch of Reformation, we were surprised to see how much progress there’s left to be made in the footwear space,” Aflalo says. “We hope that by asking the hard questions and challenging our suppliers to meet our crazy-high standards, we’ll start to impact production practices and provide people with safer, cleaner and more efficient alternatives.”
Fendi
Now you can match that custom Fendi carryall with a pair of made-to-order pumps. The 94-year-old Roman fashion house’s latest service invites you to put a personal spin on its closed-toe Colibrì design, crafted in Italy over eight weeks. Fans of the day-to-evening shoe can choose from seven iterations for the toe, including black satin and the “FF” Fendi logo, and opt for 2- or 3-inch heels in materials such as animal print calf-hair and — just in time for summer garden parties — hand-twisted rattan. For an extra tailor-made touch, up to three initials may be embroidered on the shoe’s ribbon detail. Available online through May 26 and at the South Coast Plaza location May 8-10.
Tread by Everlane
Everlane set out to make the world’s lowest-impact sneakers with Tread by Everlane, which marks the direct-to-consumer brand’s first foray into shoes. Launched on April 25, the unisex style comes in seven neutral colors (think off-white, navy and pale pink) in both men’s and women’s sizes, and is available through May 19 at a special DTLA concept shop, as well as online and in Everlane’s San Francisco and New York stores. Crafted from full-grain leather produced at an environmentally responsible tannery (it uses less electricity and less fresh water than leaders in the industry), the fashion-forward kicks are made with a sole that’s 94.2 percent free of virgin plastic and utilizes recycled plastic at every opportunity, such as in the laces and lining. Best yet, the company partnered with NativeEnergy to support projects that reduce the impact of greenhouse gases, making Tread by Everlane 100 percent carbon neutral. $98, Tread by Everlane concept shop, 958 S. Broadway St., L.A.
Totême
Designing duo Elin Kling and Karl Lindman of Totême, who just opened their first flagship in Stockholm in March, have stepped into new territory — this time, launching a line of direct-to-consumer shoes. Echoing the brand’s minimalist palette (black, ivory, tan) and Kling’s love for vintage, they’ll drop one style each month. They launched with a square-toe mule, and this week they’re debuting a pair of flip-flop heels — purposefully timed, too, as shoppers dream up their next warm-weather escape.
Feature image: REFORMATION Porto sandal, $218.
May 9, 2019
