Swims is the brainchild of Norwegian Johan Ringdal, who founded the company in 2006. A graduate of New York's Parsons School of Design, Ringdal was fond of wearing his grandfather's galoshes at college and these shoes inspired him to reinvent this almost forgotten piece of marine footwear. Swims has grown rapidly in the subsequent years, branching out into all types of footwear but maintaining its key colour themes and the very handy waterproofing. A favourite of the high-fashion crowd, Swims has created special collections with John Lobb and Armani in recent seasons.
famous for giving the world oil, salmon and the stultifying plays of Henrik Ibsen, Norway can now boast a must-have fashion item. Swims are that rare thing, a great looking and affordable product that is practical. Moreover, the dozens upon dozens of designs and colours means you are unlikely to bump into someone wearing the same pair as you.
of course, the galoshes are what made the brand its name and are well worth investing in, but personally we'd go for the penny loafer or lace loafer (above and top) and look distinctly southern European rather than Nordic. Prices range from HK$1,299 to HK$1,499.