Archiving Colours

“Rivers are turning black and our colourful closets are to blame.” Working at Puma Select, Yousra Laissaoui addressed the inefficient and polluting dying processes in the textile industry – not by finding sustainable alternatives, but by highlighting the luxury of colour. How can we make coloured items feel exclusive? Yousra turned the dying procedure of leather inside out; instead of applying ink to the smooth surface, she let the inner side soak up the pigment. The technique is used on a brand-new footwear collection, inspired by old gladiator constructions that play with layers and tension. The subtle incisions give a hint of the treasure underneath; when you start walking the leather opens up and the shoes reveal their true colour.

*Only online, not on display at show*