I.T celebrated the launch of the BIRKENSTOCK x Rick Owens collection with a pop-up store event at I.T Hysan One Avenue. With Michèle Lamy, wife and business partner of Rick Owens and South Korean indie musician Oh Hyuk hosting the event, leading style and fashion celebrities including up-and-coming actress Angela Yuen, actor Neo Yau and model Jason Wu also attended the exclusive party to celebrate the collection launch. Oh Hyuk’s distinct fashion sensibility and unique talent has garnered him a strong following from around the world. To inaugurate the collection, he was invited by I.T to come to Hong Kong and co- host the event with Michèle Lamy. “I’m very glad to be part of the Birkenstock x Rick Owens launch event and be in Hong Kong again! The setting of the pop-up store is amazing and it truly manifests the DNA of the two brands”, explains Oh Hyuk.

Apart from Oh Hyuk, the intellectual Angela Yuen is also a big fan of Rick Owens: “I have adored Rick Owens since a very long time ago. The crossover collection infuses the unique and decree spirit of Rick to the comfortability of Birkenstock sandals! I just love them!”. Neo Yau was also very excited about the new collection. “I have been an enthusiast of Birkenstock sandals, they are functional and comfortable! And now combined with Rick Owens’ signature designs, it is such a thrilling collection to look forward to”, says Neo Yau.

Jason Wu, the budding model-actor, who has been gaining much recognition since he first appeared on screen, enjoyed the party immensely. “I have been following the collaboration when they first launched last year. The Birkenstock’s iconic sandals with Rick Owens’ aesthetics create such an interesting genre mix and reinvent a new arena in the fashion scene”, explains Wu.

In the collection, Rick Owens delivers his fresh take on the ARIZONA sandals, the ROTTERDAM sandals and the ROTTERHIKER boots. Prices range from HKD2,999 to HKD5,499. The new Rotterdam styles feature different colored and extended logo straps. The upper straps incorporate a metal squeeze buckle closure. The EVA outer sole is the same colorway as the cork sole and blends seamlessly with the foot bed. The Rotterhiker boots include a metal buckle on the upper strap for easy fastening as well as a logo strap on the lower part. Prominent design detail is the elongated shoe tongue and the translucent rubber sole, featuring the original BIRKENSTOCK footbed. The classic Arizona silhouette has elongated straps and will come in different metallics and color-block colorways that add a new dimension to the collection. The second release of Spring / Summe­r 2019 styles will launch in March 2019. More information on those styles to follow.

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