Zaha Hadid loves fashion and fashion returns the sentiment. After having collaborated with Melissa for some unusual sandals, the Anglo-Iranian architect is designing models of shoes for Lacoste. True to her specialization, they are architectural.

Limited edition - Lacoste Zaha Hadid

Produced thanks to an innovative manufacturing technique, they were inspired by the brand’s celebrated crocodile, its skin in particular, and aim to create a swaying and undulating surface. To this end, metal plaques have been heated and used to reproduce this effect on certain parts of the shoes.

The first model, made in limited edition, will be out in July. Developed around the foot, they will come up to the ankle on men whilst the womens’ version will be calf high.

“The idea was to create a graphic landscape, swaying around the body,” explained Zaha Hadid. “To offer a dynamic fluid.”

The leather of the Lacoste Zaha Hadid shoes has been embossed by hot metal

With a rubber sole, the models will be available in black and purple for women and black and aquamarine for men at €300 a pair. Only 850 examples will be sold and can be found at Colette (Paris), Dover Street Market (London) and 10 Corso Como (Milan).

A second creative wave will follow in September with the arrival of another range of Lacoste shoes from Zaha Hadid. These will be unisex and the model, which was presented back in October at the trade show Frieze in London, is a shoe designed to be a second skin. In the same materials and colours it will be on sale through the Lacoste sales network at €140.

By Jonathan Fulwell (Source: C. Vautard)