LAKArt's Sustainable Sneakers Celebrate Local Art, Fashion, and Weavers

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(SPOT.ph) Sneakers are quite literally your greatest companion against the world's rough terrain. Countless popular silhouettes have come and gone over the years, with many brands shifting their focus to sustainable processes to create pairs that care for both your feet and the environment. One key player in that field of sustainable footwear in the Philippines is LAKAT Sustainables, and their latest line—the LAKArt Series—is a celebration of local fashion and Philippine art.

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What are LAKAT sneakers?

At first glance, LAKAT's shoes might resemble a Converse-Superga hybrid. But what truly sets them apart is how they're made and why certain materials have been chosen to craft a distinctly Filipino shoe.

LAKAT sneakers are made from water-repellant, handwoven pineapple and cotton fibers, and rubber farmed in Mindanao. Some parts like the insole and drawstrings are made from discarded 100% pineapple non-woven fabric. It's lightweight and durable, plus the production of each sneaker helps both the country's local weavers and farmers.

The local brand carries the shoe in high-cut and low-cut versions available in every color you can think of. Here's where the fun comes in: they partnered with artists Garapata, Lilianna Manahan, and Doktor Karayom to come up with a line of wearable art you can wear with intention.

All three agreed to the collaboration right away and they worked with LAKAT to bring their visions to life while staying in line with the brand's commitment to sustainability.

Apart from making art more accessible and attuned to daily wear, LAKAT and the artists have come together to showcase their work, promote local, eco-friendly, and sustainable textile, and strengthen the bonds between Philippine art and sustainable fashion.

The limited-edition pieces will premiere and be showcased at Art Fair 2024, with each artist's personality, style, and unique design shining through—and the LAKAT sneaker as the medium.

Also read: Art Fair Philippines 2024: Everything You Need to Know

Garapata

First, let's talk about the Garapata pair, designed by Dex Fernandez. "I haven't worked [with] any shoe brands yet, when I got invited to collaborate with Lakat, I didn't think twice."

Fernandez called forth his main character Garapata, who started out as an idea and has now become a brand. His design sees Garapata splattered across the entire shoe, and represents the infestation of varied spaces. According to Fernandez, it is also an exploration of the complex human condition and how humans intertwine with one another.

"We have companion parasites feeding from our feet, in a cute or charming way," Fernandez said.

Lilianna Manahan

Lilianna Manahan's star for her design is a bird she had been drawing for fun since high school. She shared images of the bird on social media during lockdown, most of them drawn in different postures, in mundane settings, or in near-death situations that all refelcted the strange uncertainty during quarantine.

The bird has since been named Clarence and he's perched atop Manahan's pair right over the laces. It's his official debut, with the sneaker aptly called Clarence's Afternoon Stroll. Manahan says he's a reminder that there's beauty and hope left in the world.

If Garapata is your adorable familiar in the Metro, then Manahan's pair is a canvas for you to play with. "I enjoy allowing the viewer or user to continue the story, or in this case: the use of the object. That is why I start off with two ways to wear the shoe, but leave it up to the owner to embellish or take away from the design. I hope the shoes also serve as a canvas for people to express a bit of themselves and have fun walking around in them."

Doktor Karayom

Russell Trinidad, known through his moniker Doktor Karayom, harks back to childhood adventures with duendes and engkantos. "Kung saan-saan ako napupunta, tulad ng pagsuot ng sapatos na ito ay madadala ka nito sa lugar na gusto mong puntahan ng komportable at may tiwala sa paglalakad mo," he explains.

He also recalls tales of engkantos purposely leading you astray and random objects growing on your body for his design. Being lost is two-pronged: perilous and transformative. "Kung saan ka man mapunta ay makakatulong sa paglago ng iyong sarili, karanasan na ililigaw ka sa hindi mo alam at tutulungan ka nito mamuhay. Kagaya ng guhit ko na may lumalabas na bulaklak o halaman sa katawan ng tao. Ang mensahe ng na-engkanto ay: Mamulaklak ka at mamunga kung saan ka man mapunta, habang ang iyong ugat at nakatanim pa din sa pinagmulan mong lupa," he says.

How much are shoes from the LAKArt Series?

The low-cut pairs are priced at P13,940 each, while the high-cut pairs are priced at P14,930 each. They'll be showcased and sold at Art Fair 2024, which runs from February 16 to 18 at The Link.

Also read: Art Fair Philippines 2024: Everything You Need to Know

Art Fair Philippines 2024 will take place on February 16 to 18 at The Link, Ayala Center, Makati City.

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