Yohji Yamamoto Has Collaborated with Repetto on a Ballet Flat Capsule Collection The Best Collaboration We Didn't Know We Needed

Repetto and Yohji Yamamoto today announced their collaboration, which was originally unveiled at the Japanese brand's latest winter show in Paris. The two brands had actually already collaborated twenty-two years ago, in 2002, but this year's partnership seems even more significant, as it comes not only at the peak moment for ballet flats, but also at a point in the market where more traditional and specialized brands like Repetto are gaining recognition even from classic "specialist" circles.

The design given a new interpretation is Repetto's Bolchoï model, the everyday city version of the classic ballet flat that Repetto produces for classical dancers. The result is a hybrid: halfway between a loafer and a ballet flat, combining the structure of the classic ballet shoe with the structural elements that make the loafer a far more wearable shoe. The toe box is more structured, while the rest of the shoe is supple and elasticated, with a series of pleats running all the way around the collar.

The Yohji Yamamoto x Repetto collection will be available from September at the brand's official stores and at selected retailers.