Louboutin’s men’s boutiques in Paris, London, New York and Los Angeles all share a very special element, the Tattoo Parlor, nestled among the handcrafted leather walls and the masculine décor of the space. The concept was born from the designer’s admiration for the art of tattooing. Incorporated into shoe designs over the years, the embellishment has now evolved into a unique service which will be exclusively available in selected boutiques in Europe and the US from February, and Asia and the Middle East later this Spring. This creative service will allow customer’s own tattoos to be interpreted as fine embroideries on a pair of shoes, creating a unique and personalized pair.
Christian Louboutin explains the inspiration behind the service, “It started as an idea of a present for a friend, I made a pair of shoes for him embroidered with his tattoo. A lot of my friends have tattoos, I realised that it's not only just a part of pop culture but a bit of a map on someone's body which says something about people. A part of their life, like an armour or a crest. Instead of carrying someone else's crest on a loafer, I thought it would be a modern armouries , your own crest on your own shoe. Instead of a classical made to measure bespoke shoe, which other men's shoe brands do very well, this is my modern approach to bespoke.”
Clients are invited to discuss their design and preferences during a private appointment with an in-house bespoke services expert, who will walk them through each step of the process. Clients can choose from a range of fine men’s styles, from the sporty Louis sneaker to the elegant Henri loafer. The Nigel, a new style, is introduced exclusively for this service.
As part of the bespoke service, the client will choose from a selection of fabrications and diverse color palette. At the heart of this unique experience is a choice of three embroidery techniques which can be employed to bring personal tattoos, or one designed by Louboutin to life. Outline and Shine, is a technique which uses a black and silver thread whilst Color introduces the use of dynamic colored thread. The sophisticated Color and Relief uses a variety of vibrant colors of thread as well as fine bead work. Images of the customer tattoo and their bespoke combination of elements are received by the Louboutin studio in Paris to be interpreted into technical drawings detailing the placement for the shoe.
The final proposal is then sent to the client from Paris to ensure the drawings are true to the vision. Requiring three months from the day of order to the finished product, the shoes will have travelled through the expert hands of artisans in Italy and India before finally being received by new owners.
The service is also available for ladies, where a choice of four classic styles is offered. From the run- around-town Rollergirl flat and Louis sneaker to the elegant Belle Ankle boot and sky high Highness pump – together they cover a range of heel heights and styles satisfying the diverse tastes and preferences of the Louboutin woman.
Photography Olivier Saillant, commissioned by Christian Louboutin.
Photography by Peter Lippman, commissioned by Christian Louboutin.
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