A flavor of East Hampton…

When Kitsuné got its hands on J.M. Weston’s classics to create a new interpretation of them, the narrative drew on an imaginary American straight out of the Hamptons. It turns out that Masaya Kuroki and Gildas Loaëc, founders of the label, have a taste for the timeless “preppy” style and its use of luxurious materials to create meticulous detail. Steeped in the iconic images of the Hamptons seaside resort, the designer duo referred back to 1950s photos of American high society enjoying the simple pleasures of life, from boating parties to afternoons with friends. All of this is set against a background of simple, unpretentious chic.

This American interlude is hardly out of character for J.M. Weston, whose founder Eugène Blanchard studied technique in the United States in 1904. To quench his thirst for knowledge, the young man crossed the Atlantic to learn the Goodyear stitching technique, which he then brought back to France. It was the start of J.M. Weston’s rise to fame.

Moccasin, Derby & Laced Ankle Boot

Maison Kitsuné worked closely with Michel Perry to develop this micro-collection of three models:

. A two-tone calfskin moccasin in grey and sand, representing the purest American “college” spirit, best worn barefoot in the summer. While J.M. Weston traditionally mounts its moccasins using Goodyear stitching, this design uses Blake stitching for a more flexible, relaxed shoe.

. A laced ankle boot in larch-tanned calfskin, reminiscent of a stroll through the woods of Vermont, with a perforated upper that recalls the broguing of traditional golf shoes.

. An East Coast-style derby, in larch-tanned calfskin or butter yellow calfskin suede, mounted on a brick-red rubber sole to be comfortable in the country and elegant in town. The brick-red rubber sole is a first for J.M. Weston, which generally uses Goodyear stitching on leather soles.

These models will be available in Paris, from April 29th at the Kitsuné boutique at 52 rue de Richelieu 75001 and at J.M. Weston (Champs-Élysées boutique and Bon Marché), Tokyo, London and Brussels. They will also be available in New York and Hong-Kong by special order.

Product information, interviews with the designers, sketchbooks … will be available starting on April 26th on the website: www.jmweston-invite.com