Giuseppe Zanotti x Kanye West Cruel Summer Sandal — Fanning The Flames

Chicago-bred rapper Kanye West may have a K.D.Lang-style “constant craving” for the spotlight but, this month, he’s shifted the focus away from himself — well, partially, anyhow — thanks to the release of the first G.O.O.D. Music compilation album, Cruel Summer, featuring all the artists in West’s roster: Big Sean, Kid Cudi, Mos Def, Cyhi the Prince, Teyana Taylor, Pusha T, John Legend, D’banj, Malik Yusef, and Q-Tip. But, of course, West takes on a Zeus-like role in this particular Mount Olympus, presiding over his hand-picked musical demi-gods — in fact, a track featuring Pusha T and Ghostface is dubbed  “New God Flow.” In keeping with the theme, West opted for an epic album cover that conjures up images of ancient Greece, of majestic temples with ionic columns, of sculptures of Zeus and Aphrodite de Milo, of alabaster boxes meant for storing sacred perfumes and ointments.

And, since West has been prioritizing teamwork throughout the months spent producing and recording the album, he also embraced the spirit of collaboration in his fashion design endeavors, joining forces with Italian footwear designer Giuseppe Zanotti for a second time to create a limited-edition woman’s shoe.

The all-white shoe nods to the aesthetic of the Cruel Summer cover, its matte white shade meant to create the illusion of it being carved from alabaster, its sculptural form incorporating an inward-curving heel and molded flame shapes fanning out along the center of the vamp. Since ancient Greeks considered fire a divine element, the grooved flame accents that virtually climb up each sandal, extending all the way to the front of the ankle, posit West and Zanotti as the two Prometheus-like figures gifting fire to those women lucky enough to nab these gorgeous sandals. Consider it their way of “passing the torch.”

No details on the price or availability of the shoes have been revealed as of yet, so stay tuned for more updates!