Source: GEL-MAI KNIT MT
The rebel status of Vivienne Westwood lies as one of the cornerstones of UK Fashion. Since her collaboration with the Sex Pistols’ Malcolm McLaren she has established herself as a voice for those fighting to make waves as opposed to simply riding them. She recently connected with ASICS to create a captivating Gel Mai Knit MT.
The shoe recalls the iconic Westwood Sex Shoe made for McLaren’s “Sex” shop. The Gel Mai Knit hasn’t been a solid shoe for ASICS in the U.S. and has been located on sale in a number of outlets, but this version carries with it the weight of an influential creative who is currently fighting to end the dominance of Fast Fashion. In her most recent campaign she stated,
“Fast fashion should be the first to go, she reckoned.
“It’s awful,” she said. “The most sustainable thing is to reduce, reuse, recycle. But for the fashion industry, it relies on the production process and suppliers reducing their carbon footprint too.
It’s an admirable challenge to the fashion industry, but in creating these models with ASICS it underscores the fragile nature of presenting a position, but continuing to use components in design that are harmful to the ecosystem.
ASICS had an opportunity to create shoes that featured knit from Algiknit and outsoles created with Bloom Foam. Westwood has taken a hard shift in design and is stating without fail that fashion should be about quality over quantity. The reduce, reuse, recycle concept is a part of her interviews, but in collaborating with ASICS an opportunity was missed and the models created, while stylistically impressive, are similar to the models already created by ASICS which aren’t designed with sustainability in mind. AS much as I like each of the styles, I think it’s necessary to write a post that reminds the brands to really collaborate and not just utilize names to promote concepts. Brands have to dig a bit deeper to make a long-term connection to the consumer and to help add to the conversation around climate change and around product design.
Shoes pictured in order:
GEL-MAI KNIT MT
GEL-DS TRAINER OG 140.00
GELSAGA 120.00
GEL-DS TRAINER OG 140.00
