The OAO Les Arcs Boots Low revisits the brand’s high-cut original, offering a lower profile while retaining its architectural reference to Charlotte Perriand’s Les Arcs chair. Hand-hammered rivets and visible stitching highlight Japanese craftsmanship, and the boot is available in black, brown suede, crack gray and purple. Its counterpart, The Curve 2, draws inspiration from Zaha Hadid’s unbuilt National Stadium and introduces an original dual-density EVA sole that combines stability and cushioning with a herringbone tread for grip.
Now available for pre-order, the Les Arcs Boots Low is listed at approximately ¥62,700, while The Curve 2 retails between about ¥33,000 and ¥62,700 depending on finish. The Curve 2 is set for pre-order from October 25 with delivery in mid-November. The release emphasizes OAO’s focus on human-centred design rooted in architectural form
Image Credit: OAO
What's Driving This Trend
- Architectural-inspired Footwear
- The fusion of architectural design elements in footwear is revolutionizing how shoes combine structure and aesthetics, offering unique silhouettes that echo iconic architectural works.
- Craftsmanship Revival
- A renewed focus on visible craftsmanship, such as hand-hammered rivets and stitching, is captivating consumers seeking authenticity and quality in fashion items.
- Dual-density Sole Innovation
- Advancements in dual-density sole technology provide opportunities for footwear to offer enhanced comfort and grip, catering to the needs of both performance and style-oriented customers.
Who This Affects Most
- Luxury Footwear
- Emerging trends in luxury footwear leverage high-end design inspirations from architecture, appealing to markets looking for distinctive and premium fashion statements.
- Japanese Artisanal Manufacturing
- Japanese artisanal techniques in fashion manufacturing are gaining global attention, backed by a growing desire for handcrafted and culturally-rich products.
- Sport and Performance Footwear
- The integration of performance-enhancing technologies in sport footwear is disrupting traditional market offerings by balancing aesthetics with functionality.
