Luxury footwear label Galet has embraced the penny loafer.
The French brand, which launched in 2014 with a whimsical resort line of slip-ons, has given the classic style modern, minimalist touches for its fall-winter 2016 collection.
Galet reimagines the loafer as a lighter, brighter option for fashion-forward men, putting a rubber sole on a classic silhouette. Menswear has been moving away from formal toward any-occasion dressing for a while, founders Jonathan Horemans and Javier Goggins told Footwear News.
“We took inspiration from the classic Ivy League penny loafer and looked at how men’s dress codes are shifting — men are dressing smart-casual,” Horemans said. “We wanted a more versatile loafer that could pair well with shorts, jeans and even a suit. We felt that the loafer market has become stale and saturated with the same silhouettes, brands and colors.”
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Treatments include supple Napa leather, a streamlined V strap and an extended stitching channel across the shoe. “The leather was always a point of compliment,” Goggins added.
“It fits in with our philosophy in being a French, refined brand,” Horemans explained. “Our loafer, compared with Italian brands like Gucci and Ferragamo — they are a bit chunkier, and the toes are a bit squared. The stitching is rugged and hard.”
The shoes will be available in September in black, dark brown, bordeaux and bottle green, retailing for $265 at select stores and online.
