Lacoste Goes Architectural with Zaha Hadid

Famed architect Zaha Hadid lends her keen design eye to footwear through a partnership with Lacoste. The initial co-created capsule collection is set to debut at retail in July.
The concept for the line grew out of Hadid’s team’s experimentation with Lacoste’s iconic crocodile logo, which they initially digitized and then used in an exploration of repeated patterns on varied surfaces. “The design expression… allows the evolution of dynamic fluid grids,” Hadid explains. “When wrapped around the shape of a foot, these expand and contract to negotiate and adapt to the body ergonomically. In doing so a landscape emerges, undulating and radiating as it merges seamlessly with the body.”
That fluid effect can be seen in the tall boot ($525 retail) and abbreviated ankle boot ($315), which are made with molded rubber and feature wraparound shafts that snake up the leg. The shoes also feature a unique strap-closure system inspired by a bicycle clip, which was designed to blend into rather than distract from the design.
The product is positioned as unisex; the tall boot comes in purple and black, while the shorter style is available in navy and black. Only 850 pairs will be sold, via high-end boutiques such as Fred Segal in Los Angeles, Colette in Paris and 10 Corso Como in Milan. More Zaha Hadid for Lacoste footwear will appear in stores worldwide in September.