Every now and then, you’ll come across a collaboration that is like a fine piece of artwork. Something conjured up by the minds of two great artists, their combined work elevating both their individual strengths to produce a truly breathtaking vista. This new Merrell 1TRL & côte&ciel collaboration is one of those vistas.
The duo have joined – Merrell 1TRL in the form of a rugged landscape artist & côte&ciel as a visionary textile designer – to produce the craziest version of Hut Moc yet. It’s somewhat reminiscent of the Nike Presto Foot Tent – if there was ever a version made for glamping.
The Hut Moc’s usual utilitarian, lace-bound upper has been traded in for swirls of luxurious fabric, twisting over themselves as if they were bath towels on a fancy hotel bed. Beneath these drapes of fabric lies a neoprene sock insert, ensuring a deceptively snug fit. Perfectly suited for navigating the endless rows of yurts at Glastonbury’s VIP section.
The shoe really is one of the most intriguing examples of luxury outdoor we’ve ever seen. They look crazily comfortable, like wearing fine-linen bedsheets for your feet. And the campaign images are gently lulling us into a state of natural zen…
Perhaps it’s no coincidence, then, that the inspiration behind the collaboration comes from the cloud formations surrounding Japan’s Mt Fuji. The maestro responsible for the madness is côte&ciel’s Head Designer, Emilie Arnaut, who viewed the project as an opportunity to explore the dynamic intersection between a functional sole and the sculptural possibilities of fabric. In theory, this combination – like oil and water – shouldn’t mix. But in reality, it does. It mixes in an unexplainably perfect way.
The colourways on offer have been maturely selected in true côte&ciel fashion – a muted khaki and black.
For what it’s worth, we think this is one of the maddest and best, footwear collaborations we’ve seen in a long time. We’re not surprised that Merrell 1TRL have a hand in it either, the brand has been going from strength to strength recently. Hats off to them.
The campaign images are right up there as well – anyone care to explain how that girl is floating in the third image down?
Anyway, you can purchase these from Merrell 1TRL & côte&ciel from the 27th of June. And if we were the gambling type, we’d bet you that these are going to sell out pretty quickly.
