Footwear fiend Kim Kiroic introduces a new collection of space-age worthy shoes in his Fall/Winter 2016 season. A well-seasoned vet, Kiroic has been in the scene for a good eight years or so. But the relatively recent launch of KKtP in 2013 is designated solely to the sporty sneakers which gave prominence to the designer’s name. An elegant transition from his previous Spring/Summer season, the Shanghai-based designer retained the iconic front-zip closures, speckled soles, slanted foot entries and overall geometries. However, the cooler months demanded a heavier reliance on leather and particularly suede. A chukka-sneaker hybrid exhibited full-grain leather on one side, split with slate-colored suede on the other, all supported by a sturdy, lug sole. Another standout was the powder blue slip-on boot. The minimal lines, chunky sole and pastel colorway of the powder blue slip-on boot is probably a surefire hit with the direction of current trends. It’s also a bonus that it’s consistent with one of Pantone’s colors of the year: Serenity.
As many of Kiroic’s fans will know, the designer often toys with the convention of footwear archetypes: the pull tab on a combat boot, the eyelets on a pair of Converse or the band from a pair of monkstraps. Taking these individual components, he exaggerates and blends them with his own distinct sportswear flair. But his work is more than that of a footwear Frankenstein. In fact, labeling him as such is an offensive understatement to his creative eye. There is an innate elegance and suaveness to his collections that surpasses the standards of a well-crafted shoe. If Kiroic ever decided to explore other design territories, perhaps those of furniture or product design, it would come as no surprise whatsoever.
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