Cool Hunting

Part accessory and part myth, "a memory that doesn't exist," each pair from the new line of unisex shoes by Reykjavik-based designer Sruli Recht has its own story. Incorporating obscure materials and impeccable craftsmanship (this first collection was handmade in Sydney by a master costume maker), each pair is a futuristic, statement-making look. The end result are shoes that perform that ultimate fashion miracle, elevating the mundane act of walking into a rarified, near magical experience.

This may sound like hyperbole, but trying on the pointy sheep skin pair called "Slipping Away" (pictured above right) was truly a transformative experience—for at least as long as I had the shoe on, I felt at once elegant and otherworldly. It's fashion that's as much about style as it is about fantasy and romance; Recht says he chose the sheep skin because it looks like peeling paint and the slipper is advised for situations that include, "cat burglary of reclaimed Nazi heisted artwork."

Other editions include the "Czech Bootleg" (above left), which repurposes canvas blankets meant for cows as a cowboy boot. The subtle (and intentional) humor of both using the material to mimic its original purpose (it covers the lower leather portion) and reinventing it as a shoe has a Zen koan-like wit to it.

The "Grey Nurse" (above left) and its sister model (above right) share the drama of a Cuban heel and the impressive craftsmanship of pleated leather (made from one piece). But, the deep green ankleboot on the left is made from leather and inspired by seaweed and the experience of having your head underwater, while for the one on the right Recht sourced the minke dork (whale foreskin) from fisherman in Iceland.

See more images from the stunning collection after the jump and find a boutique near you to purchase them.