Following successful collaborations marking the release of Cinderella (2012) and Maleficent (2014), Christian Louboutin is pleased to once again collaborate with The Walt Disney Studios to commemorate the release of the latest, highly anticipated entry in the Star Wars saga—Star Wars: The Last Jedi.
Invited to San Francisco earlier this year by Lucasfilm, the designer was welcomed at Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), the innovative studio leading VFX and animation for the Star Wars franchise. There, in meetings with Vice President and Executive Creative Director for the Star Wars franchise, Doug Chiang, the idea of the Nomad Shoemaker’s masterpiece was born; the result is an imaginative and innovative mix of the Christian Louboutin and Star Wars teams’ creativity and savoir faire.
“Disney’s call regarding Star Wars was completely unexpected and surprised me. But I like surprises and this one particularly intrigued me! At first sight, the Star Wars universe and mine seemed far away from one another but when I saw the pictures of the red planet Crait, I instantly understood where it connected and why they had thought of me. Strong ideas and images spontaneously came to my mind,” said Christian Louboutin.
Debuting at the film’s premiere in Los Angeles, the showpiece shoe takes inspiration from the franchise, as well as styles in Christian Louboutin’s collection and a boundary-pushing art piece from the archives, the Ballerina Ultima, which boasts a breathtaking 6” heel. To complement the showpiece shoe, Christian Louboutin has created four exclusive custom shoe styles epitomizing the spirit of four of the film’s heroines: Rey (Daisy Ridley), Vice Admiral Amilyn Holdo (Laura Dern), Captain Phasma (Gwendoline Christie) and Rose Tico (Kelly Marie Tran).
- Rey (Daisy Ridley) is portrayed by an ankle-strap leather sandal inspired by the character’s costumes including the harnesses that strap her body, while translucent PVC reflects her Jedi powers and the Force she embodies. The style is finished with a blue strass heel evoking the color of her lightsaber.
- Vice Admiral Amilyn Holdo’s (Laura Dern’s) pumps are the natural extension of her costume, directly inspired by her draped burgundy cape and the strong, reserved and empowered character she portrays.
- Captain Phasma’s (Gwendoline Christie’s) shoe is evoked by the curves of her armor, represented by silver specchio leather yokes, reflecting her strict and authoritative character.
- Rose Tico (Kelly Marie Tran) is represented through a utilitarian sandal imagined by Christian Louboutin, depicting a technical, engineering-driven individual. The strong heel protects an inner stiletto, reflecting the shell safeguarding her resilient spirit.
Each style is embellished with a bespoke glimmering jewel inspired by the Tie Fighter.
“Christian Louboutin’s shoes are truly functional works of art and it was such a pleasure to collaborate with him on the Nomad Shoemaker. The designs I create for films are meant to be experienced cinematically, while Christian’s have an intimate tangible relationship with their wearers. With this collaboration he has masterfully infused Star Wars into his magnificent, one-of-a-kind creations,” said Doug Chiang.
The Nomad Shoemaker’s story will continue with the unveiling of this unique showpiece shoe, created by Christian Louboutin and ILM, guarded by a set of glossy red members of the Praetorian Guard, on the red carpet of the film’s world premiere in Los Angeles on December 9. The custom display for the shoe will feature a hyper-realistic holographic installation. For the designer, the use of a hologram was the best way to express his vision: a combination of creativity, enchanted by magic, enriched by technology. To him, the hologram is the most iconic visual effect of the franchise. This is how the story of the Nomad Shoemaker will be brought to life, inside a unique red crystal showcase, blurring the lines between reality and 3D animation. In this custom-made cabinet will be featured the story of Christian’s avatar—transforming a shredded chiffon pump, symbolic of Couture tradition into a spectacular, futuristic Ballerina Ultima-inspired-spaceship, to convoy the designer around the galaxy.
The commemorative styles—each signed by the designer, as well as the actress who portrays each character the style was created for—will be auctioned on charitybuzz.com/StarWars from December 7 – December 20, with a portion of the proceeds benefitting Starlight Children’s Foundation on behalf of Star Wars: Force for Change. The showpiece shoe, unveiled at the premiere on December 9, will be added to the auction after its much-anticipated reveal. Star Wars: Force for Change, a charitable initiative from Lucasfilm and Disney, harnesses the strength of Star Wars to empower and improve the lives of children around the world. Starlight Children’s Foundation creates moments of joy and comfort for hospitalized kids and their families.
