WATCH THE MAKING OF VALENTINO GARAVANI’S NEW CROCHET SNEAKERS

by Stephen Garner Mar 24, 2021

Maison Valentino has launched a new video series offering a behind-the-scenes glimpse behind the making of some of the Italian luxury brand’s most coveted pieces.

Called “Mastery Tales,” the series premieres this week with a look at the brand’s new Crochet sneakers, which were first introduced at the spring/summer 2021 Valentino Collezione Milano fashion show.

For the new Valentino Garavani Crochet sneakers, creative director Pierpaolo Piccioli took inspiration from macramé, which is traditionally used for the brand’s Couture gowns, and used it for the first time in accessories. The shoes, which the brand designed as a genderless style, are entirely handmade. The style features a woven upper made with tubular fabric laces that are combined with the VLogo Signature sole.

These shoes present an unexpected upper and a meticulously hand-crafted construction: the upper is firstly shaped on a flat surface, starting from a braided collar. A second layer is subsequently interwoven with the collar. Meanwhile, the counter is separately crafted and then combined with the upper. The sole and the upper are put together thanks to multiple holes in the rubber sole where the laces pass through to create a dynamic design. Finally, a resin coating on the toe and counter confer resistance to the style.

Valentino Garavani’s Crochet sneakers, which retail for $980, are now available.