Green-minded Bally opts for natural look
SWISS giant Bally formulated four fashion statements for its latest collection - Contemporain-Ville, Victorian, Romanesque and, going green, Ecologie-Protection.
The ecology theme features a move towards a more natural relaxed look, and features the feather-light water-repelling polyester material, SympaTex, as lining.
For men, the look is one of ankle-high trekking-style laced shoes in natural leather, and brown-grained leather shoes with eyelets and thick laces.
For women, the green theme is expressed with a new casual, smart but solid shoe, which comes in natural colours, combined with red, yellow, green or blue.
Women can choose from ankle-high laced shoes of grained, dyed leather with a sheepskin lining, trekking-style boots made of green suede, oiled leather, or SympTex, calf-high, tight-laced boots of nubuck and patent leather, and flat nubuck models featuring fringes on the instep.
The shoes all have one feature in common - the fashionable profiled sole that is so practical at this time of year.
Matching bags include napsacks, tote bags, belt bags or large shoulder bags, available in blue, off-white or green nubuck.
The Contemporain-Ville collection features nubuck and leather shoes with crepe soles and a pair of warm, brown Oxfords for men.
Women's shoes are pumps with a square toe and high block heels or flat, simple-laced shoes, in a suede and calfskin mix.
The shoes are sometimes highlighted with detailing, like golden-styled palm leaves and leather welting. There are also flat ankle-high Oxfords in a shiny honey-toned leather.
The range includes a large shopping bag of quilted calfskin, a box bag with zipper, or a big leather tote bag.
The Victorian collection features, for the first time, a laced shoe with a small invisible ''shock absorber'' in the heel.
The heel is equipped with a special synthetic layer which absorbs energy and thus protects the joints.
Shoes come in brown and coloured grained leather.
For women, footwear includes flat laced suede shoes, loafers featuring chain and palm leaf detailing, and pumps with a small platform sole. There is a large selection of handbags in nubuck.
The Romanesque collection includes Oxfords featuring a Parawet sole - a leather sole specially treated to reduce permeability and increase resistance to wear and tear.
For women, the collection includes elegant laced shoes with golden palm leaf detailing, understated suede pumps, possibly decorated with a strap, and thin flat suede slip-ons with palm leaf decorations on the toes.
