The Bite Magazine - Spring/Summer 2020 - Issue 27

bite trainers Images courtesy of Duke + Dexter A visit to any Duke + Dexter store will not only provide you with a warm welcome but coffee that is always on the go and a lounge area to make yourself at home whilst you browse the shelves or have a taste of their favourite tipple. Since 2014, the brand has challenged the expectations of what a British shoe brand can and should be by striking a balance between pro- gressive fashion and familiar British charm. All of their footwear is designed in London and handmade in Sheffield with sustaina- bly sourced materials. Expanding from its London roots into a global community, Duke + Dexter has worked with athletes, musicians, artists, designers, photographers, and pioneers who do things differently and go against the grain. “We are limitless in our creativity, confident in our individuality and united by our choice of footwear.” They have also received international recognition, selling to over 120 countries worldwide and working with reputable retailers includ- ing Harrods, Selfridges, The KaDeWe Group, Levels and Tsum. Having won Draper’s Footwear Awards for Premium Footwear Brand of the Year in 2017 and 2019 and nominated for Best On- line Footwear Business in 2018, Duke + Dexter has added the likes of Eddie Redmayne, Ryan Reynolds, Justin Timberlake, Jo- han Hill, David Beckham, Snoop Dogg and Rihanna to their ce- lebrity clientele. This is probably because “durability and comfort remain at the brand’s core and our choice of linings and sole units lend themselves to the demands of a contemporary lifestyle.” The main collection, Opus, is a hand-selected range of the brand’s favourite and most celebrated styles. “With a shoe for every oc- casion, from contemporary boots to our iconic loafers, the Opus collection is a true reflection of its title: an artistic work, on a large scale.” Made up of loafers and Chelsea boots, the collection has some interesting colourway such as the Duke Camo Stormtroop- er Loafer in a monochrome military print formed from collabo- ration with supermodel Tyson Beckford. The Duke Camo Volt Loafer is also eye-catching as it has fifty unique geometric shapes that are combined to form a single con- temporary camp print, where bursts of orange disrupt the black shadows of the canvas upper. While the Woolf Chelsea Boots in a choice of Dune Sand, Camo Stealth and Camo Stormtrooper is designed with Italian suede, a high ankle cuff, and a rounded toe piece. It also has a full leather lining, padded insole, and a durable thick crepe sole. The latest collaboration from Duke + Dexter is in the form of their first-ever sneaker with free skiing extraordinaire Jon Ols- son and former F1 world champion Jenson Button, both of whom they say push the envelope every day in their fields. “Adventure is everywhere - on the mountain tops, in the deserts, on the high seas, and in the skies,” says the brand. “It’s the pursuit of that sense of adventure; the freedom, the adrenaline, the path less trodden that has inspired our latest release - the Drake Hiker Low.” Whether it is on swept dirt tracks, perfectly manicured ski slopes, or the table-top surfaces of a race track; the pursuit of adventure comes in all shapes and sizes. Skier, blogger, car enthusiast, and product designer Jon Olsson lives his life to the extremes. Starting in racing in his earlier years, Olsson eventually traded speed for spring at the age of 16 and switched to freestyle skiing. He has nine X Games medals, made more than 10 film appearances and has countless other free-ski accolades under his belt. British racing driver and Formula One driver Jenson Button found great success when he won the 2009 Formula One World Championship, driving for Brawn GP. He first experienced the race track in Formula One withWilliams for the 2000 season. The following year, he switched to Benetton, and then for the 2003 season he moved to BAR (British American Racing) which was, subsequently, renamed Honda for the 2006 season. During his time with the team, he won his first Grand Prix in Hungary, after 113 races. The Drake Hiker Low in Off-White, Navy, Black, and Mono is the embodiment of Duke + Dexter’s adventurous spirit. Designed with hiker inspired lace fasteners, durable Italian suede upper and thick rubberised sole, the brand has ensured that these sneakers are always ready to go all day, every day. To make them easy to store and carry around wherever the owner goes, the sneakers are kitted out with the brand’s carabiner and also have comfortable padded interior and visibly branded grosgrain. Renowned for their selection of quality footwear such as the Opus, Duke, and Scott loafers; Opus, Woolf, and Lewis Chelsea and Chukka boots; Reed mules and limited edition Dexter slides, Duke + Dexter also collaborated with rapper Snoop Dogg. This limited edition Snoop ‘Dogg Pack’ brings to life the artist’s West Coast lifestyle, taking you from the pool to the party in three of Duke + Dexter’s favourite styles of Duke, Dexter, and Reed. Dr ake Hiker Low DUKE + DEXTER Jada Brookes explores the latest Duke + Dexter collaboration with sports heroes Jon Olsson and Jenson Button that sees them creating their first sneaker collection.