Christian Louboutin and Tokyo-Based Artist Shun Sudo Usher in Spring with New Button Flower Blossoms Collection
An artistic collaboration inspired by the beauty of nature and uniting of cultures, the collection features a range of striking Louboutin silhouettes for men and women.
In 1993, Christian Louboutin received a sample prototype of his design, the Pensée shoe — but something looked a bit off. The shoe’s black sole didn’t exactly mesh with Louboutin’s vision. He noticed his assistant was painting her nails a deep vivid red and borrowed the bottle and spontaneously painted the soles red. Ever since, that red bottom heel has become an emblem of elegance and the signature marking of Louboutin shoes.
Louboutin has embraced this daring and colorful spirit in all designs since, in the same way that Tokyo-based artist Shun Sudo captures an exuberant quality in all of his work. Ushering in the Spring season, the two have joined forces for a flower-powered collaborative collection. Sudo looks to nature as a source of inspiration for his work, which ranges across paintings — including sumi-e, a traditional form of Japanese ink wash painting — sculptures, and drawings. He used flowers and vivid colors as a starting point for this collaboration, which builds off of celebrated Louboutin silhouettes.
Christian Louboutin Men’s
Christian Louboutin Men’s
Christian Louboutin Men’s
Christian Louboutin Men’s
Christian Louboutin Men’s
The Spring/Summer 2024 Collection: the Button Flower Blossoms Collection, features playful footwear and accessory options for women and men, highlighting exclusive artwork by Sudo. “Flowers, with their nobility and grace, their sweetness and charm, they have a special ability to heal our hearts. The Button, is, in my mind, the perfect embodiment of something that connects two separate things and makes them one” Sudo explains.
The collection features various styles, including sneakers and classic Louboutin pumps, like the playful MISS JANE model. Sudo and Louboutin’s visions complement each other, with Sudo’s pop-art style contrasting CL’s classic logo, while the range’s overarching cheerful vibe ties it all together.
Christian Louboutin & Shun Sudo
“Since the very beginning of my career, I’ve had one emblematic flower: the Pensée. He [Sudo] has his own: the Button Flower that appeared to become the center of the collection. His technique also is very characteristic and I did my best to transcribe this painting effect on the shoes,” Christian Louboutin shares.
Christian Louboutin Women’s
Christian Louboutin Women’s
Christian Louboutin Women’s
A more elaborate, couture-inspired approach was applied to the LOUBI QUEEN ALTA, and the Maison’s famed KATE pump and ADOLON sneaker were revived as one-of-a-kind limited editions, showcasing hand-painted designs by Sudo.
This collaboration will launch exclusively in Japan on March 8th and internationally, within select boutiques and online, on March 13th.
