FAMED FOOTWEAR DESIGNER GIUSEPPE ZANOTTI IS A MASTER OF COLLABORATIONS. HERE, HE REFLECTS ON HIS LATEST WITH G-DRAGON 

As far as collaborations between designers and celebrities go, Giuseppe Zanotti knows how to pick ’em—past high-profile partners have included Kanye West and Beyoncé. For his latest capsule collection, exclusive images of which appear above, Zanotti stuck with a musician, but chose someone outside of the United States— Korean star G-Dragon. “When we first met, I immediately thought he was a very stylish and cool guy” Zanotti said of the singer, who has been dubbed the “King of K-pop” as both a solo artist and as a member of the popular group BIGBANG. Internationally he has been garnering attention as a fashion It Boy, even appearing at Chanel shows, so naturally he is a great choice for Zanotti. “[His] personal style and music, along with my shoe expertise were the perfect elements to create a star product,” Zanotti explained, reflecting on their first meeting in Paris.

The capsule collection (which will be available in stores and online in October) features loafers and lace-ups for both men and women. What’s more is that the collection is unisex (though U.S. stores will sell men’s sizes only), a forward-thinking choice considering fashion’s increasingly blurred gender lines. “I love when women wear masculine shoes,” said Zanotti. “They make them cool and very sexy.” The designer also noted the lasting endurance of these particular shoe styles, and their versatility. Having a chic pair of flat shoes is as essential to one’s wardrobe as having a good pair of heels. Think of it as the perfect pair of jeans to counter the perfect little black dress. And as much as denim has risen in event-appropriateness, so too have flat shoes. Of course, when they are covered in hand-applied glitter, nearly any shoe could be considered a statement piece.

Although he didn’t give any hints about future collaborators, or if any new collaborations were in the works, Zanotti hasn’t ruled out working with G-Dragon again. “We haven’t scheduled the next steps yet, but why not? It is so interesting to work with artists from different industries and to get to know their own creative processes and thoughts. I am a firm believer that you can create something magical when you meet great talents.”  

IMAGES COURTESY OF GIUSEPPE ZANOTTI

Source: Vmagazine