Deveaux Creative Director Tommy Ton honed his creativity as a street style photographer. Pounding the pavements of fashion weeks across the globe, Ton developed an encyclopaedic knowledge of street fashion. His pioneering eye-for-detail has always been magpie-like in its ability to hone in and extract exactly what he wants of his subject. Through his work at New York label Deveaux, Ton has been able to construct a luxurious, grab-and-go uniform for the everyday fashion forward on the street.
"I absolutely love Deveaux's approach to fashion and their sensibility towards product is totally aligned with mine." - Mary Alice Malone
Malone Souliers’ Founder and Creative Director Mary Alice Malone studied men’s shoe craftsmanship at London’s highly prestigious, centuries-old Cordwainers school. Like Ton, Mary Alice’s ability to adapt and extract the skills needed from her meticulous training in traditional craftsmanship set her apart in the world of women’s shoes. For Autumn Winter 2020, Malone Souliers presents its second seasonal collaboration with Deveaux.
Three silhouettes have been designed by Mary Alice to complement Deveaux’s new season of ready-to-wear. Clothes with integrity, in colour palettes that recall cracked earthenware, desert dunes and sun-kissed skin; Deveaux’s pieces are defined by the wearer. Presented alongside the unisex label’s authentic, ageless collections of rethought classics and blurred layers, the shoes’ craftsmanship revels in Deveaux’s honest approach to design. The fabrics chosen melt, mould and become the wearer; flesh peeking through mesh, folds of rubberised leather, soft and skin-like against a grounding, thickset heel.
Toni is a flat slipper with a panelled upper that showcases multiple, crossing straps and fine, sheer mesh. The resulting form is almost cage-like, hinting at the skin behind them. Tavi extends this geometric construction to Malone Souliers’ trademark 45mm kitten heel mule. Offered in nude or black colourways, Toni and Tavi offer a cerebral take on a minimalist aesthetic.
The trio is completed by Tatum, a word that summons ancient ritual and homesteads and, at once, sounds crisp and contemporary on the tongue. An ankle boot with an avant-garde pedigree, Tatum’s slouchy, soft upper is built from a unique rubberised leather and satin blend. The zip-up front and thick sole with chunky tread play to Deveaux’s propensity for utilitarian musings. Available in black and olive; Tatum subtly reflects Malone Souliers and Deveaux’s first collaboration - a neutral palette that is now a signature.
