All Photos Credited To Loubutin/Julien Vallon
Whilst the pandemic has worsened living conditions for many, some designers took initiative to give back to communities and help out during these unprecedented times. Christian Louboutin took action by launching a capsule collection with the intent of supporting 5 different no-profit organisations, which share his values and those of Idris Elba and Sabrina, two of his dearest friends who helped him design and give birth to the collection.
This special collection started from a conversation on an Instagram live between Idris Elba and the writer Opal Tometi, who embraced the ideas of the visionary shoe designer and conquered his spirit. The objective of the collection was to create something truly meaningful that will make a tangible difference towards all those communities that are hardly given a voice, emarginated and who have struggled to be considered by society.
Along the distinctive traits of the Louboutin characteristics, every item aims to celebrate equality, justice and freedom, which everyone should be entitled to. For these specific reasons, the three friends, united by their shared affection for these no-profits, have taken inspiration from two activists of the early 20th century: Martin Luther jr and Nelson Mandela.
The emblem of the collection in the “Stelitzia reginae”, commonly known as the crane flower. Its distinctive roots – that are so attached to the ground – its large leafs and its unrivaled elegance, have made it become over the years a symbol of empathy, hope and freedom. These precise values are at the core of Walk A Mile In My Shoes, the LA memorial dedicated to Martin Luther King jr that displays the cast of his shoes, which has inspired the collection.
An impressive significance that only the visionary designer could capture so exquisitely, with references that are truly honorable and serving for the right causes. The collection is a conglomerate of conversations and alliances between the three friends, which make it their priority to enforce their empowering ideals and support these specific communities. The whole proceed will be donated to these charities:
This association supports the most vulnerable groups, in need of emergency aid through agribusiness.
It was Idris’ heritage in Sierra Leone that brought her to contribute to this association so passionately, along with the organization’s closeness to her roots. They specifically help girls in need of assistance.
This no-profit actively enforces that the arts should be accessible to all.
Sabrina’s roots are reflected in her efforts to support the Somali Hope Foundation, that helps guarantee access to education for those that don’t start with the right foot in life.
At last, this organization founded by Harry Belafonte has the objective of stopping children’s imprisonment, fighting for achieving a community without violence.
Playing on the brand’s distinctive colours, but also on the duality between the ferocity of the weight that the collection carries – in terms of its significance – and hope, which is infused cathartically in the designs, as seen from the crane flower embellished white sneaker.
Words By Tommaso Donati
