This Arts Month, homegrown sustainable shoe brand Lakat partners with artists Dex Fernandez, Lilianna Manahan, and Russell Trinidad as it presents its latest limited-edition series. Dubbed the “LakArt,” the series is where fashion meets visual arts with the brand’s shoes decorated with the artworks of the mentioned Filipino creatives.

“The idea really came about from issues that surround fashion today. Seldom do we hear it as being perceived as art. And when we are presented with wearable art, it is often made such that it is expensive, elusive, and something that we cannot easily access or enjoy,” Luis Espiritu, the brand’s consulting creative director, says. “This is why I was inspired to put together a collection of sneakers that embody art that we can wear—every day. It is accessible, functional, practical yet creatively fun.”

For his collection, Dex, the artist behind Garapata, reimagined his iconic creature. His “Infestation of Varied Species” shoe line showcases whimsical drawings of human beings with multiple legs and feet that are always on the lookout for a new host to feed, live, and grow, or just to be alone. These creatures are now alive not just on canvases but also in the artist’s neutral-tone sneaker designs.

“Ironically, the shoes that are supposed to protect our feet are also infested with these Garapatas, reminding us that wherever we go, we have companions, parasites feeding from our feet, in a cute or charming way,” Dex muses. “Garapata can be sorted into two groups, extro and intro. But the majority of Filipino society is extroverted. I guess Filipinos love to mingle and are afraid to be alone. On the other hand (or foot), the introverted Garapata loves to be alone and hates crowded places. Garapata narrative is an ongoing examination of us.”

It’s a creature of imagination that stars Lilianna's designs for the series. Nicknamed Clarence, the bird-like creature is a product of the artist’s doodles during her high school days that she revisited during the pandemic lookdown. Now, Clarence is flying—or falling—in her two-way style footwear pieces.

“My shoe collection with Lakat is called ‘Clarence's Afternoon Stroll.’ I would also say that this
might be his debut/soft opening to the world,” she says. “He is just a reminder to me that I hope to share with others, that things might not look as beautiful and hopeful as they are, but all are part of something beautiful and hopeful.”

Russell of Doktor Karayom gives a bewitching spin on the brand's sneakers. Titled “Naengkanto,” the collection plays the enchanting and grim tales associated with dwendes (dwarfs) and other mythical creatures— something the artist experienced when he was young. This inspired him to create drawings of human body parts with blooms and other botanicals growing on them, but the meaning of it is far more than just being beguiled. His design encourages everyone to thrive and rise in any situation, no matter how lost and alone one feels. 

The “LakArt” series will be unveiled and available for purchase at Art Fair Philippines 2024 from Feb. 16 to 18. To know more about it, visit @lakatsustainables on Instagram.

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