Los Angeles-based footwear brand Clae has been making minimalist shoes that are both sustainable and beautifully crafted since 2001. The company has also launched limited-edition collaborations, which we’ve featured before, here and here. Now, Clae has partnered with KX Lab, a company that specializes in locally made knit footwear and apparel. The limited-edition Louie marks a first for Clae, as their first sneaker designed and produced in Los Angeles. Built for comfort in a sustainable way, the design also highlights the importance of producing locally.
“Partnering with KX Lab to do something locally as opposed to abroad made for better accessibility and communication and added a human element to all aspects of creating this shoe. From design concept to production, our local designers were able to have more face-to-face interactions with the manufacturers, all while using a person-centric approach that values collaboration,” says Jim Bartholet, CEO of Clae. “Clae’s longstanding roots in Los Angeles, its less-is-more aesthetic, and commitment to producing shoes more responsibly helped form a great foundation for this partnership,” says Joshua Katz, Co-Founder and CEO of KX Inc. “We’re proud of what we made together and, perhaps just as importantly, how we made it together,” he adds.
Made with sustainable, recycled, and vegan knit materials, Louie features a breathable knit upper that is both lightweight and durable. Crafted from recycled polyester yarns, the upper also has a minimalist, one-piece construction that minimizes waste. The insole is 100% recycled Certified Global Standard, while the sole is Clae’s signature Desert Track. Produced in KX Lab’s cutting-edge factory, Louie comes to life thanks to innovative technologies. You can find the limited-edition Louie shoe in Clae’s online store. The brand offers the shoe in three colorways, Navy, Black, and Off-White/Olive, all of them available for $180. Photography © Clae.
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