Beauty in Imperfection.
The savoir-faire of French shoemakers Paraboot meets the distinctive style of British menswear label Universal Works for La Beauté Dans L’Imperfection – a collaboration rooted in shared values of authenticity, quality, and the quiet power of imperfection.
The idea for the collaboration was born at Paraboot’s factory in the French Alps, where both teams reflected on the notion of “perfect leather”. “Can leather ever be perfect?” asked Universal Works founder David Keyte. “The marks and variations – that’s where the beauty lies. They tell you it’s real.”
At the centre of the collection is Paraboot’s iconic Michael shoe, reimagined in black, coffee, and sand tones with smooth and textured finishes, removable fringed detailing, and a debossed message carrying the project’s title. Complementing the footwear is a capsule collection by Universal Works – an embroidered navy jacket, a French blue cotton twill set, T-shirts in navy and ecru, and a printed bandana featuring repurposed 1960s Paraboot graphics.
For Keyte, the partnership has been decades in the making. “I’ve worn Paraboot since I was a young man,” he says. “I bought my first pair of Michaels forty years ago. When we finally met through a shared Italian agent, it just felt right – we already understood each other.”
Available from Thursday 23rd October at universalworks.co.uk and paraboot.com.
PHOTO CREDIT: Courtesy of Universal Works.
