Sport Couture

The concept of ‘Sport Couture’ was developed over several seasons in women’s ready-to-wear footwear collections for Dirk Bikkembergs. It began in 2000 by combining the unique lacing style of performance football boots (laces wrapped around under the shoes to provide a secure fit) with a fine high-heeled sandal sole, handmade in the north of Italy, to create a hybrid shoe which attempted to marry the strength of sport with the elegance of women’s couture fashion. This shoe formed the entire collection of the Spring/Summer 2001 catwalk show during Paris Fashion Week. It also became the flagship item of the inaugural Dirk Bikkembergs campaign for Vogue.

The theme of wrapping laces around the foot was developed for the following season’s signature styles. Inspired by ribbons, the leather straps twirled around the foot and were embedded directly into the insole. Previewed during Paris Fashion Week 2002.

In the following season the theme was developed further, through drawings and prototypes, by attaching silver hoops to the elasticated ribbons which playfully twirl around the foot then slide up the cylindrical metal heel to secure.

Client: Dirk Bikkembergs