British menswear brand Universal Works and French shoemaker Paraboot are finding power in imperfection with a new collaborative collection called “La Beauté Dans L’Imperfection,” which is available now at universalworks.co.uk.
The collection reinterprets Paraboot’s classic style known as the Michael shoe, which dates back to 1945 and has served as a canvas for collaboration for many brands. It’s a two-eyelet laced style featuring thick leather with a piped seam; stitching is prominent around the natural rubber sole while a thick insole provides comfort. For men and women, the shoe features a Norwegian welt.
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Thanks to this partnership with Universal Works, the Michael is now refreshed in colorways including black, coffee and sand with smooth and textured finishes, removable fringe and a debossed message reading, “La Beauté Dans L’Imperfection,” which is the name of the collection; each pair is hand-finished in France with the use of longstanding techniques. Meanwhile, a capsule collection from Universal Works rounds out the collection.
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“I’ve worn Paraboot since I was a young man,” Universal Works founder David Keyte said in a statement. “I bought my first pair of Michaels 40 years ago. When we finally met through a shared Italian agent, it just felt right — we already understood each other.”
The founder spoke to the concept at the heart of the collaboration as well. “True beauty lies in imperfection,” Keyte said. “Nothing handmade can ever be perfect and that’s what makes it special.”
“We share the same belief in craft done properly,” offered Paraboot. “Every pair is made by hand, so no two are ever identical that’s where their soul lies.”
This year, Universal Works has released collaborations with the Japanese sneaker brand Flower Mountain in addition to the Japanese bag brand Master-piece.
Find additional images of the collaboration between Paraboot and Universal Works below.