This summer, Anwerp Fasion Museum MoMu and Japanese label Grounds, present their shoe collaboration named Hanky, with a colourful and eye-catching design, inspired by the fabrics of the study collection in the MoMu library, the sneaker is now available solely in the MoMu Shop. Designed by Grounds founder Mikio Sakabe, a former Royal Academy of Fine Arts student in Antwerp, he studied fashion design before opening his own set of labels.
All photos courtesy MoMu x Grounds
Words Daniella Teixeira
Mikio Sakabe is a Japanese designer most notable for his shoe designs. Born in the north of Tokyo he initially studied at Seikei University where he pursued maths. He decided to do an art foundation course at Central Saint Martins in London when a tutor suggested for him to pursue fashion. He spent the next two years at The École Supérieure Des Arts et Techniques de La Mode (ESMOD) in Paris. Eventually he attended the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp, the oldest fine arts academy in Belgium and regarded as one of the best fashion schools in Europe. Nowadays he owns multiple brands, is an educator and is the founder of his own fashion school in Japan.
Mikio Sakabe’s aim is to change the way sneakers are worn. He talks about how he envisions the future of shoes and the role of his extra-large and see-through soles:
Through shoes, we will bring about a new way of communication with the earth. We will make people more aware of the time-gravity link and make them dream of their connection to a higher dimension. Making a shoe where the sole-itself is connected to the earth, with a shape fit for walking, the burden of walking is lifted. The transparent soles of the shoes will have you feeling as if you are walking on air. With a shape that delivers a punch, feel your consciousness flow through the soles of your shoes.
Mikio Sakabe created a shoe in his iconic chunky sneaker style, with a clear sole that envelops the vibrant colours of the material used, adorned by a handkerchief that is used as a shoelace. Specifically done for the MoMu Shop, the print is heavily influenced by historic textiles from the Study Collection of the MoMu library. The library is known for it’s wide array of books, magazines and documentation on any topic relating to fashion and its history. Within it there is the Study Collection, an educational project, that is curated for people who want to learn, research and get inspired by the world of textiles.
MoMu x Grounds Hanky Sneakers exclusivly availabe at The Momu Shop in size 37-41.
MoMu – Fashion Museum Antwerp @momuantwerp I www.momu.be
Grounds @grounds.official I www.grounds-fw.jp
