Del Toro Shoes Offer a Flash for Fall
By CORBIN CHAMBERLIN
Fall often signals dark colors and luxe fabrics. But for Del Toro, the Miami-based footwear brand best known for its velvet slippers, it means toying with the idea of reflection. The brand is introducing a limited-edition line of sneakers and wingtips made from 3M reflective material, a high-visibility fabric that could be illuminated by headlights (or in many cases, by street-style photographers).
Started by three boarding-school buddies, Matthew Chevallard, Nathanial Wish, and James Bohannon, Del Toro has an eclectic edge that appeals to a younger audience, but maintains the underpinnings of prep school nostalgia. The leisure shoes are sold on their Web site and carried at Saks Fifth Avenue and Scoop. (They will be available at Harvey Nichols and Matches Fashion in London this fall.)
In January, Mr. Chevallard collaborated with Leandra Medine, who writes the Man Repeller blog, on a pair of burgundy slippers with embroidered gold and silver flamingos. Dwayne Wade and Lil Wayne are among those who favor these Italian-made soles, says Mr. Chevallard, Del Toro’s chief executive and creative director. He says the 3M line is an extension of his love for sneakers and sneaker culture — Jordans and basketball sneakers in particular.
There are only 18 pairs of the 3M line in each of 3 colors. They will be available Sept. 25 on Del Toro’s Web site at $325. Mr. Chevallard’s flair for flash doesn’t end here; he says he plans to include the reflective material in future collections. Look out.
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