New Louboutin designs combat racial injustice
Paris-based luxury footwear designer Christian Louboutin has teamed up with British actor Idris Elba and Mr Elba’s wife, Somalian-American model Sabrina Dhowre Elba, on a capsule dedicated to raising money for charities engaged in preventing racial injustice.
The collection, titled Walk a Mile in My Shoes, will launch on June 16, roughly a year since the friends first began working together in the wake of George Floyd’s death in Minneapolis on May 25, 2020. (The Elbas had subsequently participated in an Instagram Live with Black Lives Matter co-founder Opal Tometi, which Mr Louboutin tuned into.)
Visual interpretations of the plant Mandela’s Gold, named after former South African president Nelson Mandela, feature on various styles, including the designer’s So Kate pump and Vieira tennis shoe.
Other designs, finished in black, have been embroidered with the collection’s name in Mr Louboutin’s trademarked shade of red (Pantone 18-1663 TPX or “Chinese red”).
Describing the partnership, Mr Louboutin told British GQ: “Sabrina has been looking at everything related to textiles, fabrics, things coming from Africa. So, she’s been doing a lot of research. She was also the one who did all the research with the freedom flowers and the symbols in the collection.
“Idris has been more involved in the shape. You know, he loves cars and I always think a good car designer would be a great male shoe designer.”
For his part, Mr Elba said: “Christian was a dream to work with. He was truly collaborative, encouraging and showed a real interest in our design concepts. We share the intention of using our platforms to play a small part in securing change.
“Our chosen charities are a reflection of that, as they look to help people, especially the young. These are the people that will benefit from our collaboration.”
100% of the profits raised from the shoes will be split among a hand-picked group of charities, all of whom focus on preventing racial injustice in the UK, Africa and the US.
Image: Christian Louboutin.
