Handmade leather boots with gaiters, 2020.
Everyone goes through a stormy period of adolescence in the course of their growth. At this time, teenagers think of themselves as grown-ups and refuse to treat themselves as children. They secretly try on their parents’ clothes and are happy that they have become adults. But from an adult’s point of view, there are many things that are clumsy and lacking. As such, The design of this collection is focusing on the awkwardness when a young one tries to mimic an adult. Beyond the relaxed-feeling fitting, it focused on the oddly large style of clothing, and this collection is inspired by the style of Zoot Suit Riot, a revolution that took place in LA in the early 20th.
The first upper represents the young one who just encounters a stormy period of adolescence. They are still innocent, and they have a possibility of development. So, the first upper doesn’t have any component such as eyelet or buckle. Second upper represents the raging identity of youth. Third upper represents mimicking adults. A classic footwear’s upper is representing adults in this collection, so the third upper’s pattern is inspired by classic gent shoe, but their shapes are imperfect.
Material: first upper is calfskin leather, second upper attached to the rough side of the velcro on their surface. The third upper is vegetable tanned nubuck, slightly thicker than normal shoe leather.
© Younghwan Kim.
