Page 119 - The Bite Magazine - Issue 11
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art installations that gave the illusion of the models being
weightless and breathless. Rem D Koolhaas said: “Working
with Iris Van Herpen each time is a big challenge for us
as she pushes boundaries with ideas for things that have
never been done before. Collaboration partners like IrisVan
Herpen and Zaha Hadid give us way for our continuation
in re-inventing shoes. United Nude was originally founded
on this principle with our sculptured sandals just over ten
years ago; breaking the rules of conventional ladies shoe-
making, not for the sake of breaking them, but simply by not
knowing them.”
United Nude’s collaboration with world-renowned
architect Zaha Hadid last year produced the Nova shoe,
a combination of innovative materialisation and ergonomic
considerations and most recently, the Cora shoe which was
specially designed for Vogue Fashion Dubai Experience at
Level Shoe District by Rem and his United Nude team.The
shoe inspired by sea corals consists of a 3D printed wedge
with sculptural holes in its side, a small 3D printed buckle
and a textile ribbon to attach to the foot.The upper can be
made with any kind of textile ribbon, in any colour and in
endless typing variation. They have also collaborated with
Mattijs van Bergen, Antoine Peters, K-Swiss, 223, 5PRCITY,
Calligraffiti and Masha Ma. United Nude does not just limit
their designs to shoes; they also venture into other forms
of architectural endeavours. After the launch of the Lo
Res shoe and chair, they produced the Lo Res car, using
the revolutionary virtues of a 3D scanner to lower the 3D
resolution of a Lamborghini Countach.Their life size Lo Res
car has been exhibited at the Gwangju Design Biennale in
Korea and another is on permanent display at their New
bite
shoes
York flagship store. With no doors or mirrors, the entire
body rises electronically for people to enter and is based
on top of a golf cart chassis, creating a 50km/h moving
sculpture.
The Stealth Hat created in 2011 was inspired by the straight
lines of the Stealth F117 fighter plane. Unlikely to fly under
the radar like the aircraft, the wool felt hat which is also
available in paper straw, is noticed immediately for its
remarkable and unique design. Available in hues of black,
white, white and black, beige, pink, red, purple, mustard and
navy, the Stealth Hat has been sported by United Nude
celebrity fans Jay Van Sharp, Kwasi Gyasi, Renée Neufville,
Egberth Thomas and Afaina de Jong. Back to shoes, the
United Nude Fold, like the physical concept of the Möbius
shoe, is about the fluent movement of a single strip of
material. The strip folds around the foot front-to-back-
to-front like a scarf and owes its success to the perfect
combination of style and comfort. The uppers are made
with custom designed elastics and the shoes are lined with
luxurious high-quality leather.
United Nude has flagship stores in Amsterdam, London,
NewYork,Vienna,Tel Aviv, Seoul and Tokyo.
