J.M. Weston & Soeur
The designers from the women’s fashion label Soeur reinterpret j.M. Weston’s iconic 180 loafer, available in two subtle colourways.
The iconic loafer, designed in 1946, is J.M. Weston’s emblematic shoe. This essential, timeless style is recognisable
by its Goodyear stitching which gives it its longevity and its strap with the “gull”- shaped cut-out. Its manufacture requires no less than
180 hands-on steps by the artisans in the brand’s Limoges factory.
In this collaboration with Soeur, the loafer has been reinterpreted in a subtle and natural way.
On one box calf foot, two “gulls” are superimposed with subtle, harmonious colours:
black and land of shadow or larch and black.
The slightly contrasting stitching, playful edging, superimposed cut-outs… It is neither entirely the same nor entirely different, but this new version of the 180 loafer, reinterpreted by Soeur, required a new pattern for its makers.
The 180 J.M. Weston & Soeur loafers are sold from October 18th in J.M. Weston (Champs-Élysées, Madeleine, Saint-Honoré, the Marais, Brussels, Tokyo Aoyama, Tokyo Isetan Ladies) and Soeur (Filles du Calvaire, Guichard, Bonaparte, Brussels, Madrid) stores and on their sites online.
Olivier Saillard, artistic, image and culture director at J.M. Weston:
“At Soeur I have always perceived this desire for very democratic fashion, far from the idea of women associated with very aggressive femininity. I like the idea of a brand that embodies a form of restraint and elegance, very close to J.M. Weston. Soeur’s designers wanted to reinterpret the moccasin, the most iconic of ‘iconic’ shoes, that they considered a sort of repetition, on the shoe itself. I like this idea : for me, at Weston, the right foot is always the brother or sister of the left foot, a sort of comrade, a sort of partner… Hence with Soeur, there is a sort of solidarity in the name, in the foot, in the shoe… Like a sign.“
Domitille Brion, founder and artistic director of Soeur:
“For me, J.M. Weston is above all impeccable quality, know-how, authenticity… These are shoes that I have seen my family wear for generations… I have always wanted to wear them, in a totally natural way: this is something that has inspired me. My way of designing garments is close to theirs, with artisans at the heart of what they do. For all these reasons, this collaboration is both a pleasure and an honour. We chose the 180 loafer, which I love, precisely because it is iconic, simple and perfect. We didn’t want to alter it completely: the challenge was to do something different while really getting inside what it is. We just had to bring our own touch, hence this subtle mix of colours, that have come naturally together.”
"TO MY FOOTSTEPS, COMPANIONS ON THE ROAD,
TWO FEET WITH SISTER SHOES,
RIGHT AND LEFT, OR BROTHERS WHO DOUBT
FOR LIFE ATTACHED TO MY HEART"
Olivier Saillard
