Rick Owens’ sublabel DRKSHDW has been working with Converse for years now – offering up thick-soled footwear and even the occasional clothing drop. The two entities are expanding their collaborative footwear portfolio with the reveal of the Rick Owens DRKSHDW x Converse DBL DRKSTAR in “Blonde” and “Concrete.”
Like night and day, the new colorways see overdyed hues on the DBL DRKSTAR silhouette, which is known for its extra tall double-stacked sole on the classic Converse Chuck 70 silhouette, hence the “DBL” in the name.
“FOR MY SPRING 2020 COLLECTION, I ENLISTED MEMBERS OF THE TWO SPIRIT COMMUNITY IN SPRINGVILLE, CALIFORNIA, NEXT TO MY CHILDHOOD CITY OF PORTERVILLE, TO COLLABORATE ON THE COLLECTIONS PRESENTATION. I HAD WANTED TO HONOR MY MEXICAN HERITAGE ON MY MOTHER’S SIDE AND FOCUS ON ITS GENDER NON-COMFORMING SUBCULTURE TO SUPPORT QUEER MEXICAN YOUTH FROM THE TOWN I GREW UP IN UNSUPPORTED,” said Rick Owens.
“TWO SPIRIT IS A TERM USED BY NORTH AMERICAN INDIGENOUS PEOPLE TO DESCRIBE NATIVES IN THEIR COMMUNITY WHO FULFILL A TRADITIONAL THIRD GENDER CEREMONIAL AND SOCIAL ROLE IN THEIR CULTURES. THEIR PRACTICES ARE CENTERED ON PRINCIPLES OF NATURE ETHICS, ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE, AND SOCIAL CONSTRUCTIONS AROUND GENDER IDENTITY AND EXPRESSION.”
Take a look at the new colorways in the gallery above. The Rick Owens DRKSHDW x Converse DBL DRKSTAR in “Blonde” and “Concrete” is set to release on June 11 in-store and online and Rick Owens. The shoe will then be released on June 12 at HBX.
