Footwear by Zaha Hadid and Lacoste
17
May 2009
Zaha Hadid Architects and french company Lacoste collaborated to design this exclusive footwear. Limited to 850 pairs, the boots will be released next July in three exclusive stores from Paris, London and Milan.
“Featuring a digitized version of Lacoste’s famous croc logo and a pliable, coiled strap system, the styles bring Hadid’s signature look to footwear for men (an ankle boot) and women (a calf boot).”
One more image after the break.
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57 comments »
I’m usually cynical about architects’ ‘extra-curricular activities’ – but that show at the top is great. Well done Zaha
For men? I would never wear anything that ugly. Kind of an interesting idea though.
Ugh, this is terrible. Architects are not designers. Especially no fashion designers.
Do you realize how immature and ignorant your comment sounds? More than likely you’re just jealous. There’s no way you could say P. Starck is anything less than a designer whether it be of buildings, shoes, lamps or furniture! Talent is talent! Genius is genius!
I think one of the lines I can choose in my Architect school is “Architectural DESIGN”…and then there’s a “Product DESIGN” line also…how can you say that Architects are not designers? I’ve been writing music since I was 13, will I not be taken serious in that area if I finish my studies???
Would like to see pictures in “context” (to keep this discussion architectural!). The concept of a high boot that still enables you to see the woman’s leg I think could be a bit sexy!
@ Johann
As in Industrial Designers/ Fashion Designers. I’m so tired of architects trying desperately to enter the world of high design and art. Of course everyone here probably thinks architects are designers and artists, so what I’m saying will fall on deaf ears.
Also, aesthetically, these things are pretty bad. The colors are bland and over-used, why is there a ripple effect on the material, it’s trying too hard to look organic.
Saying that Architects are not designers is the most backwards thing I’ve ever heard. Did you even read that after you typed it? First of all, they are designers, and second of all, the only reason to be skeptical of their non-building designs is because you wish you could be that successful that people would ask you to design things outside of buildings. I’m not a big fan of Zaha, but I won’t knock her for trying another field on for size.
U can’t say architects r not designers…they r!!!…That is exactly waht they do ….they design…whether it’s a building ,a cup,…..a dress or a shoe…. :) ,…the concept is the same….but I do agree this is terrible,…it looks like some kind of cheap plastic shoe from star trek,…..i feel sorry 4 Lacoste…..
Manky! Yet another poor ‘limited edition’ effort from Lacoste…
many architects build incredible objects!
classically an architect approached designing everything down to the light fixtures and door knobs. its a utilitarian & visual/creative field so it makes PERFECT sense.
i for one, dont like hadid’s buildings so its no surprise i dont like her shoe, but as with any artist it is an exploration of making the world from a set of questions/ideals. a pair of shoes she makes with her perspective driving is as valid as her buildings.
personal style has got nothing to do with someones qualifications to be doing something.
if youre a product designer who is pissed she did this, then yes, get over your insecurities. they only bring out how small you are. architects are designers.
that must be a typo.
the collab is with Crocs the company, not the LaCoste pattern.
ha!
…sell-out.
sono contento che zaha hadid si dedichia disegnare scarpe, però le voglio dare un consiglio è meglio che si dedichi solo a questo e lasci da parte l’architettura almeno fino a quando non si schiarirà le idee!
As it happens I agree with Carlo. As an architect there seems to be nothing in Zaha Hadid’s oeuvre that makes any spatial sense to me. However, it has long appeared to me that she has particular talent with objects of a certain scale. One piece of hers that I have always loved is the massive l.e.d. spiral -chandelier- that she made for Zumtobel Staff. These booties seem to be the spiritual kissing cousins of that very successful design.
There is, also, a sort of Roman sandal and ankle snake mash up going on here that is witty and successful. On the scale of a building her work never fails to look pretentious and ridiculous to my eye. For that which you can hold in your hand, hang over your dining table, or put on your foot she has a huge gift.
Terry Glenn Phipps
Architects are designers and if you have the EYE for design you can design anything…..even shoes! Not to say I like them because I don’t, but as a designer with intent I hope we can all agree to hate these shoes! Enjoy your day x
Ps… melloncollie128 does not know ANYTHING!!!
@melloncollie128
well this will probably fall for deaf ears as well but tell me. please. do you really think that architects aim to do industrial design / fashion design?
“high design” as you call it. you crack me up. i think most of us architects choose to be architects, not industrial designers etc.
then, not to mention any names but you do know that some of the worlds most well known designers now and back in the days where architects, right?
ah, and one last thing. when you start to complain about the shoe. i’m pretty sure saha isn’t the one doing all the work… lacoste, or who’s shoe it now is, probably know kinda what they are doing. just guessing, but you are the expert. tell me.
ugly shoe btw
so thats why i never liked lacoste
so thats why i never liked zaha
I don’t think we should use this one poor looking shoe design to lump all architect’s into the category of “bad designers.”
In regards to the side argument, architects are designers, but that does not mean that they are talented enough to be able to design everything (in some cases they aren’t even appropriately talented enough to design within their given field).
As for the shoe, yet again typical Zaha. All about the name and hype, and nothing about practical design or taste. In my opinion the shoes are hideous and it seems as if the collaborating company knows it as well. They have probably figured out that the only way they will be able to make any money off of it is by making it appear highly exclusive (only 850 to be produced), and then counting on the Zaha-philes and the gotta-haves to buy them up. If the design were any better, one could be reasonably sure that the shoe company would be trying to capitalize further on the design, versus trying to break even off of the starchitect’s name.
Criticize Zaha and the hideous design that she has created, not an entire profession that has been around for millennia, and has been title to individuals who have brought forth great works and discoveries spanning all creative fields.
oh God.. the crises effect!!
Zaha should model her own design….sexy
Imagine a condom designed by Zaha?!!!
Yes, Architects can design things other than buildings. No, Zaha can not design a good pair of shoes.
Imagine a condom designed by Gehry!
Somewhat painful, a definite “for her pleasure “only…
the modern age requires, or maybe has come to be synonymous with “multi -tasking”, “multi -roled”, designers.
fashion designers dabble in interiors, sum in architecture and the same holds true for architects, dabbling into other fields.
wether a gud thing or a bad thing, we are seeing that in different segments of the world today. “malls” that sell anything from a hairpin to automobiles… a wider range of products means a greater turnover…
so this jump in scale is not limited to architects only.. its in all professions.
melloncollie128 is just bitter that he’s wasted five years on studies just to be able to draw a chair, while an architect has the range from Olympic stadiums to knitted socks…
All comments about “architects are not designers” are bullcrap……
Design and architecture is SO related and have spawned MANY top designs, also in shoes i.e. Rem Koolhas’ United Nude (not THE Rem Koolhas but THE Rem Koolhas’ nephew).
The reason to recent this is that Lacoste could’nt care less about architecture. They go to the architecture stars because they are stars and thier names sell.
I hope mrs. Hadid made a lot of money selling her soul and designing this uninspired and completely obvious boot that will NEVER be worn by a cool person, EVER…
As if the world need another pair of shoes … especially an elitist version. Doesn’t it show what a mess the architectural profession is in? The connotations of this “design” will be endless … putting the boot in, strangling the profession, shape sells … endless! This is as bad as the “Wu shoe” (a punt on the Chinese martial-arts); although Koolhaas’s involvement there may have more foundation. We are rapidly seeing the office of Hadid involved in projects outside the realm of architecture, perhaps, this is the more reasons to losing trust, interest, and question her core target. Fair enough if an architects have reached the pinnacle of his/her career; but the jury is still out over the architecture of Hadid.
Thank Lacoste there will be only 850 pairs! Zara please, your designs does not apply to everything…..
Rethink the unthinkeable…tha’s design but please not this way.
Horrible.
Well, Lacoste itself lately produces nothing really attractive and I can imagine that the brand is not that asked anymore. This collaboration with Hadid is a poor attempt to save the situation. But, unfortunately, it promises to ruin everything completely..
Good points, eliana. The best thing if no one had made any comments about the shoes. They would just quietly disappear/forgotten … as careless thoughts and objects always do. Unfortunately I am as guilty as the next to raise a concern. Sorry.
If this is her idea of a shoe, i’m affraid to see her idea of a sock.
two things, first…
melloncollie128: “Ugh, this is terrible. Architects are not designers. Especially no fashion designers.”
why not? what a dumb post.
anyone can design, and specially clothes.
as far as i know, lacoste and melissa trust zaha and not other designer.
and second:
“Zara (it’s Zaha) please, your designs does not apply to everything…..”
that’s the point. lacoste doesn’t want a retail shoe that anyone can have in the whole world. lacoste want only 850 pair of shoes for 850 persons who understand the whole point. that’s it.
theDude: Imagine a condom designed by Zaha?!!!
lol, durex and lifestyle are next
This shoes seem like the “alien woman” outfit on one of these futuristic space series from the nineties.
now I can imagine the kind of reactions that Mies’ furniture and house appliances by the Bauhaus generated back in the day…
melloncollie128
You are not the first person who say architects are not designers, a lot of industrial designers I met also love to say that too. Maybe this is what they were told from teacher in ID school.
It depends on the definition of ‘design’ in your mindset. And from my perspective, it is too narrow to judge that architects are not designers just because of your mind is not open enough to see anything outside what you have learned from ID school/and or your industry.
Please keep in mind, clients are not stupid, they went to hire architect to design a new product because they want to see something different from what traditional industrial designer did. If they want something conventional, predicable, of course they always run to you guys all the time.
don’t worry about your profession, nobody here wants to steal your job. Some architects just want to experiment something new in different kinds of design projects, it doesn’t mean they are trying desperately to enter to your world. don’t worry, don’t worry.
By the way, these boots are very ugly…
the boot above is beautiful. i think so. i like the movement of the mass. i don’t mention about the function of its whatever that’s one of the most important thing in designing object.
Architect is not only an architect but also a sculptor, and an industrial designer is a sculptor, too. so don’t say like that ’bout an architect that design an industrial product.
thank you!
i only like the above one, i don’t libe the below one :D
The tall boot is a perfect concept for the next Dubai tower :)
ну что+же круто
не понятно только, почему в нашей деревне их не продают
I think is a great shoe design, it has her signature concept, looks good, and it’s a aproposal, just as any design in the world you might like it or not, remember phillip stark shoes for puma, they sold like hot bread, and to me they were ugly but not to ther 5 millions people.. so let’s have a more prosional approach to this.
PS: can you imagine a condom design by Koolhas…it might be a transformer one, just like the prada pavillion jajajaja
architects are the worst dressed people in business so why are u commenting on fashion. its new and so fresh. fashion is basicly stuff that the average person would never wear or afford.
link feliz, zaha hadid + lacoste.
I love my shoes of the nephew of Mr. OMA and now I have to get also these shoes! great!
i would really like to see those on a person in the street… before giving such strong opinions
Why does someone else’s success generate so much hate? If you don’t like the shoes don’t buy them.
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