If you follow Rick Owens on Instagram, it’s likely you’ll be fully aware of Gaia and Hortense, the Bengal cats that share his and wife Michele Lamy’s Paris home (recently joined by Pixie, a hairless sphynx that couldn’t look like Owens’ pet more if it tried).
While Gaia and Hortense might be Insta-famous, now one of them (just don’ t ask us which, okay?) is making their big fashion debut by appearing in the designer’s latest campaign, as part of a collaboration with ethical sneaker brand Veja. First debuted at Owens’ AW19 show, the sneakers are fully vegan and crafted sustainably in the Amazon. “I certainly don’t have the authority to promote sustainability but that’s the message – we can all start somewhere,” he explained post-show.
When it comes to the sneakers themselves, both studios worked with new, innovative technologies to create a truly innovative shoe in-keeping with Owens’ distinctive aesthetic. The soles are crafted from biodegradable materials such as banana oil, sugar cane, and rice husk, which is then coated with Brazilian natural rubber. Its 3D, breathable uppers, meanwhile, are made using recycled plastic bottles and presented in neutral shades of beige, black, and dust grey.
“To work with a free spirit like Rick Owens was an experience,” explains Veja co-founder Sébastien Kopp of the project. “We have a common philosophy: everything is possible and we put 100 per cent of ourselves into what we do.”
Check out the lookbook above.