A Trinidad born designer is making his presence felt internationally. Joshua Joseph of New York-based vogue model, Rebels to Dons, has joined forces with basic shoemaker, Clarks Originals and American designer Ronnie Fieg, to create an unique new design.
The design was launched on June thirtieth, on-line and commerated with an in-store occasion at menswear boutique Blue in Inexperienced. The landmark Rebels to Dons x Clarks shoe is a part of eighth Road — the progressive sub-label by Kith founder Ronnie Fieg.
The collaboration marks the following main chapter within the Caribbean’s storied relationship with the British model. For many years, Clarks Sneakers have remained a most well-liked footwear model within the islands with many Caribbean artistes even highlighting the model of their music. In flip, the model has launched many Caribbean-inspired collections over time. Joseph nevertheless, is the primary Caribbean-born designer to create his personal Clark’s silhouette.
“It’s thrilling to work with such a basic model that has been part of our tradition for thus lengthy,” mentioned Joseph. “Because the designer, I see this as a possibility to present a way of possession to the folks that actually embodied and embraced this model a lot,” he continued.
For his landmark venture, Joseph took inspiration from the late Nineteen Seventies and 80s, when a brand new wave of Caribbean immigrants imported their distinctive vogue (and everlasting love for Clarks) into New York Metropolis’s streetwear lexicon. Honoring the 2 locations that formed him as a designer, “I needed the design to point out how town and the islands are linked via model,” mentioned Joseph.
With this in thoughts, the designer reimagined Fieg’s Clarks maycliffe right into a mule, incorporating dynamic particulars that may morph into the wearer’s day-to-night flex. “That is one thing you can gown up and gown down, all on the similar time,” he defined.
Fabricated from pure tan nubuck leather-based, the mule options hallmarks of the Clarks model, from the crepe outsole to stitched higher detailing. Personalization comes courtesy two detachable fringed straps, one in an identical tan nubuck, and the opposite a nubuck brun. These trimmed straps may be swapped or layered collectively.
By remixing these removable accents, one can rework the mule, “from easy to extravagant,” mentioned Joseph. “This one design offers you room to do as a lot as you need,” he highlighted.
Expressive, adaptable adornments reduce to the core of Joseph’s total ethos at Rebels to Dons. The model has garnered extensive acclaim for his or her radical reinterpretation of streetwear staples, splicing collectively kinetic colours, patchwork textures and off-kilter silhouettes to type one thing really surreal. “For us, elaborations are our method of disrupting the acquainted and making one thing surprising,” defined Joseph. “And our Clarks mule captures that spirit.”
The Rebels to Dons x Clarks maycliffe mule have been launched in a restricted version run. They are going to be bought completely on-line by way of the Rebels to Dons web site rebelstodons.com. The closing occasion to rejoice the launch will happen at Soho Seaside Home in Miami on July thirtieth.
