BRAND
MARK CHRIS x Ilaria Urbinati
WHO
Menswear shoe brand Mark Chris works closely with their team of artisan shoemakers in Italy, utilizing sustainable materials and processes to develop a new kind of luxury, one that seeks to slow the fashion cycle with a focus on craftsmanship, fused with innovative design. Each pair is handmade using age-old techniques handed down through generations of highly skilled artisan shoemakers, and sourcing the finest quality Italian leathers and European textiles.
As a men’s stylist, Ilaria had been putting Mark Chris shoes on her clients for years and felt a collaboration would be a natural fit. “I love the quality of his materials and how his shoes can create the whole outfit. I was inspired by autumnal colors in a retro silhouette that manage to feel like a shoe you’ve owned forever.”
WHAT
The capsule collection entails three new styles – each named after Ilaria’s three children. Two tasseled styles in butter soft leather—one in oxblood (The Lou), one in olive (The Leopold)—are designed to be worn with everything and anything, be it a suit or more casual trouser. A third style (The Wylder), in a vintage cream with gold horsebit hardware and slightly more heightened arch has more of a ’70s flair.
INSPIRATION
“Being from Rome, the tassel loafer reminded me of the Italian gentlemen I grew up with. Always effortlessly cool and little bit suave,” says Ilaria. As for the horsebit loafer, she says, “A lot of my clients love to have a little bit of height in their shoe, so I designed this slightly higher arch with them in mind. With pants getting a bit more flared these days, I thought this was a perfect shoe for that silhouette. The color just gives it a little bit of swagger and is a warm, vintage cream you can pull off year-round as opposed to a starker white leather.”
All three pairs are handcrafted out of the most comfortable calfskin leather, so you can wear them all day.
“This partnership with Ilaria is one I’ve been very excited about. It’s a true pleasure to work with a like-minded person who has a love for family, quality, pushing the boundaries of fashion and highlighting individual expression. I don’t view anything I do as transactional, to me it’s about people and building relationships. We are honored to have created this relationship with Ilaria, a true pioneer and visionary in the men’s fashion space.” – Mark Chris
WHEN & WHERE
The limited edition collab is available to shop today.
