Singaporean luxury fashion house Charles & Keith has teamed up with Paris-based footwear label Both to create a capsule collection that draws from ‘90s punk and urban streetwear aesthetics.
Both’s signature rubber-laden approach meets the Japanese art of Kintsugi, which seeks to find the art in imperfection. Kintsugi is a traditional method that uses gold to mend cracks in ceramics or to bind broken pieces together; the effect is recreated in the footwear of the Charles & Keith x Both collection. The collection is available in black, white, and a co-created print that features gold marble foil overlaid on a lemon-yellow background./ga
Classic Charles & Keith Chelsea boot and chunky loafer silhouettes are reimagined with Both’s signature curved rubber soles. The addition of grunge streetstyle-inspired platforms serves to blur the lines between on- and off-duty wear, with the sculptural silhouettes harking back to the styles sported by youth frequenting Camden and Harajuku during the 2000s. In Kintsugi style, seams on footwear are broken and underlaid with gold or silver.
Bags reimagine ‘90s styles with a contemporary twist; baguette shoulder bags are given chunky straps and metal hardware while structured bucket bags use a magnetic closure that folds over to create a sleep elliptical form. A statement buckle appears on the latter — as well as on loafers in the collection — wrapping around the body to represent the unity of utilitarianism and creativity.
“The blending of our brands’ sensibilities was very natural. Innovation and experimentation form the backbone of our design ethos, and we have a strong collaborative spirit in our roots, as active players in the global creative circuit,” said Fredie Stevens, Design Director of Charles & Keith. “With Both’s expertise and one-of-a-kind rubber technique, we tapped on each other’s strengths to push the boundaries on design and translate this material into a contemporary collection we hope our wearers will love.”
The collection will be available via the Charles & Keith and Both webstores.
Words by AR Staff
