Hardrige by L Ecurie : Rafale

It’s a collaboration to die for! Hardrige, the shoe supplier for the French Air Force has entrusted the brand L’Ecurie with the task of remaking the Rafale model, the eponymous pilot’s shoes.

This characterful model skilfully combines the distinguished military aspect of the pilot’s boots with the tailored quality that one expects from a pair of premium ‘city’ shoes.

All the traditional know-how of the two fashion houses is required to obtain this exemplary finish – more than one hundred and fifty manual processes are needed to create the final product.

What would become of these beautiful shoes without a box worthy of their name?

It’s with this box that you can see L’Ecurie’s eccentric streak (and that of Patrice Meignan, their visionary designer accompanied by Jeremy Taltaud, co-founder and designer)! A limited edition range will be on sale in Colette, and the first pair will be sold in the most distinguished of shoeboxes: a Porsche 1968 with a boot made out of the same materials and in the same colours as the Rafale boots!

Better than Pimp my Ride (or at least more elegant – thank goodness!), the boot has been completely customised to house an entertainment system, starting a voyage of discovery into the world of fashion know-how.

Now you must surely have a better understanding of why we are so enthusiastic…