To commemorate the upcoming Fall / Winter season, Level Shoes have embarked on a journey to transport the soul of India to the soles of your feet. Known as the ‘Dear India’ campaign, this collaboration between India’s top couture designers and leading international footwear designers is a love letter to the wondrous and textured culture of the country. India, with its rich and vibrant heritage has often served as an inspiration for international fashion throughout the decades, with this Level Shoes AW17 campaign taking full advantage of the region’s opulent colours and textures.
Sixteen designers were invited to join Level by creating a bespoke Indian inspired piece as part of an exclusive capsule collection. The exclusive men’s collections includes everything from casual elephant motif slippers to velvet hand embroidered loafers all created by elite designers such as Edhen Milano, CB Made in Italy, Duke & Dexter, and Stemar.
Street-style stars turned designers Filippo Cirulli and Filippo Fiora (of Edhen Milano) recreated their classic Brera double monk loafers to mirror the remarkable energy of India.
“India is the cradle of colours, richness and incredible complexity. We truly enjoyed the process of channeling these elements into our designs for men.” – Fillipo Cirulli and Filippo Fiora, Designers and Founders, Edhen Milano
The brother and sister duo behind CB Made in Italy, Cecilia and Lorenzo Bringheli, also channelled their fascination with India’s vibrant colours and craftsmanship when they recreated their infamous Amalfi and Ravello designs.
“We made our slippers with two different fabrics in limited editions and available just at Level Shoes. The fabrics we chose match the elaborate craftsmanship and are both colourful and rich. Inspired by ‘Dear India’, we used bold tones from gold to black with a touch of paillettes.” – Cecilia and Lorenzo Bringheli, Designers, CB Made in Italy
Duke & Dexter designers Hugh and Wij brought their vision of ‘Dear India’ to life by mixing rich Indian traditions with Western aesthetics and focusing their own interpretation of that marriage through their intricately designed loafers.
“India is a nation of endless inspiration and the Duke & Dexter for ‘Dear India’ capsule collection lends itself to a blend of vibrancy and sensory engagement. Drawing upon the eclectic mix of colours and patterns from the Indian environment, Duke & Dexter’s latest range of stylish loafers for Level Shoes will help you stand out from the pack.” – Hugh Wolton & Wij Travers, designers, Duke & Dexter
Enriching the journey further, Level Shoes will continue to explore the dynamic narrative of India through talks hosted in-store across September and October, with special appearances by guest collaborators.
Taking inspiration from the Indian wedding ceremony, the store will also transform itself using different aspects of a traditional wedding and iconic architecture of India. With the aim to celebrating India’s rich heritage, there will also be a focus on craftsmanship, celebrated poets, traditional cuisine, emerging art and the undeniable glamour of Bollywood.
Level Shoes will commemorate the campaign with a three-day festival in store from October 12th to the 14th ahead of Diwali, The Festival of Lights, to immerse its guests in light, colour, and energy.
The ‘Dear India’ collections launch in-store and on their website throughout September and October 2017.
