Balmain has given Highsnobiety exclusive access to its forthcoming sneaker boot, the Troop Nappa. The new model debuted back in January on the runway at the luxury house’s Fall/Winter 2019 show, but no further information nor images of the collection have surfaced until now.
Pictured above, the Troop Nappa will be the hero of a new sneaker-heavy footwear collection expected to comprise four models in total. Although the fashion house has launched sneakers in the past, this is the first multiple-silhouette collection to drop and looks to set the foundations for a continued and more expansive sneaker offering in the future.
Highsnobiety sat down with the creative director of Balmain, Olivier Rousteing, to learn more about the new boot.
“It’s going to be the definition of the army sneaker, a true military sneaker. Obviously, I'm obsessed with motorbike aesthetics and biker pants too. I think you can see all of that in that shoe," Rousteing explains. “I think the clip and metal remind you of all the richness of the brand. And of course, the architecture is really important because I'm someone who loves working on tailoring and the cut of the shoe makes you feel more sexy and confident when you wear it."
"With the strap and the clip, it's like the ranger boot, in a modern, really futuristic version. I love all the mix and I love the leather," Rousteing summarized when asked about his favorite details of the Troop Nappa.
Living up to its name, the Troop Nappa doubles down on the military influences which have been a longstanding keystone of Balmain's design language. Taking cues from army boots and motorbike aesthetics, the sneaker features an all-leather upper with a padded collar and a sleek rubber outsole. Balmain-branded tape wraps over the laces and fastens with a convenient magnetic Fidlock buckle closure. With their militaristic aesthetic, the boots are the ideal footwear to serve the brand’s famed circle of celebrity ambassadors, dubbed “the Balmain army”, as the brand marches into its sneaker-laden future.
A release date is still not confirmed, but the new collection is rumored to drop this July. Stay tuned for more information on the drop.
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