“Portrait of...” Levon Hawke by Hedi Slimane

Tokyo-based footwear brand, grounds, is set to launch its FW’23/24 collection featuring nine sneaker and shoe designs that push the boundaries of footwear aesthetics in early September. The new line also includes a second collaboration with designer Bernhard Willhelm who offers his own interpretation of the brand’s Jewelry shoe.

The campaign, shot miles away from any nearby city on Denmark’s Faroe Islands, pivots away from grounds’ typical cityscape settings, enabling a dialogue between urban luxury and the complete wild. Mikio Sakabe, grounds’ Creative Director, aimed to find “the perfect balance of two drastically opposing components that equally coexist.”

Taking new design approaches as well, this collection introduces silhouettes with significantly elevated soles to complement the unique bubble outsole that has become a staple of the brand. Hard knitted boots, puffed ballet shoes, elevated sole heels and quilted bags paired with bizarrely patterned outfits contrast the stark, dull background of the remote North Atlantic islands. With shoes that make you feel like you’re walking on clouds, grounds continues its mission of fostering an ongoing conversation about humanity’s connection to the earth.

The collection will debut in early September 2023, available at select U.S. retailers and online on the Japanese imprint’s website. Prices will range from approximately $350 to $1000 USD.