SPRING/SUMMER 2020 DOLITA shoe trends
In fashion, what could be better than a NEW COLLECTION? Each season, there’s always one main theme - trends that require extreme, almost mathematical accuracy, precisely-gathered information, and lots of teamwork. When fashion analysts are in the process of describing the main trends of the season and trying to spot the details in footwear fashion, their workplace is decorated with tons of papers with the names of footwear houses and designers, sketches of new ideas, the season’s color palette, and endless observations. But why not take a look at these trends from a slightly different angle? Why not put them in a new context and pick out only the most suitable ones for our clients? That’s exactly what we did and now we will give you the list of the most prominent fashion trends by DOLITA. Keep reading for a whole new, more personal, warm, individual, subjective, and therefore much more interesting way to look at fashion trends.
To make sure you don’t get lost in all of these trends, we at DOLITA will give you a brief outline of the main trend accents of the spring/summer season of 2020 and then give you an overview of what’s NEW AT DOLITA: BANU - fascinating and bright, made with a 3D printer, Anna Baiguera - exceptionally soft leather, time-tested sewing traditions, and footwear constructions, D.MILANO - progressive, bold, bright, and extra feminine, O’Keeffe - footwear with the patented “Goodyear” construction and Italian mastery, P448 - eclectic sneakers for him and her, and exclusive models designed by Mattia Capezzanio, who is continuing family traditions.
Spring/summer 2020 by DOLITA:
- The color of 2020 is blue;
- Transparency;
- The aesthetic of comfort - slippers;
- Sneakers for all occasions;
- Italian minimalism;
- Mesh;
- Snakeskin prints.
The color of 2020 is blue
Just like every year, the Pantone Color Institute announced the color of 2020 before the start of the year. This year, it’s blue. However, fashion never limits itself to one shade, so there are lots of neoplasticists Piet Mondrian’s deep blue, Le Corbusier’s sky blue, California sky blue, Lyubov Popova’s avant-garde blue, faded denim blue, and even king Elvis Presley’s suede blue. Hundreds of shades created not only by dyeing leather but also by adding various decorative details, using epoxy resin or textile, which is becoming more and more popular in footwear.
"Blue Suede Shoes" - Elvis Presley
Leather prints and details often create optical illusions. Decorations and shape are two inseparable aspects of Italian design. Also, the very first shoes made by Adidas were blue, so it’s no surprise that this color is very popular in their collections.
First blue Adidas sneakers
Models by Strategia, Ink, Moma, and designer Mattia Capezzanio (new at DOLITA) are decorated with exclusive blue leather. Here, there’s lots of braided, laser-cut, pressed leather, which gives the shoe a unique touch. This type of leather is processed with the highest-quality tools and dyed with the highest-quality dyes in Italy.
Mattia Capezzani and Moma for men
For Mr. Keisuke Ota and Mr. Yang Chao, who are the Japanese designers of Flower Mountain sneakers, blue is an integral part of their work. In Japanese culture, the color blue represents happiness. In their collections, blue is like a faded canvas, reminiscent of the blue sky. Bright details give us a hint of their mountaineering inventory as Flower Mountain is collaborating with a mountaineering company.
BANU is another NEW BRAND AT DOLITA. Here, there’s lots of focus on the shape, which is made with a 3D printer! Futurism is combined with the design in their exclusive models. Blue is very common in BANU collections: from blue mesh to epoxy resin. Their shoes are true pieces of art!
BANU for women
Premiata, Greymer, Halmanera, Ixos, Fru.it, Y-3, as well as many other brands, use the color blue as the main accent in their footwear, creating truly impressive results. Ixos’ blue is like a spaceship, while Halmanera’s blue is like a cubist painting. Art and fashion have engaged in a conversation. Feel free to join in!
Transparency
For many years, this trend has fueled outrage and protests in society and provoked readers and fashion followers. But isn’t that what fashion is all about? Creating something so unique that everybody keeps talking about it and writing about it until eventually, they need to have it themselves?
Transparency, just like decorations, must be used subtly and in moderation, and there should never be too much of it. In ancient Egypt, nudity was extremely popular. The more transparent the clothing - the more expensive it is. This was because most people already knew how to spin camel wool but you needed to be a true master to create such a brittle and transparent fabric.
Thousands of years later, transparency took on a different meaning both in society and in fashion. The Space Age, innovative ideas, and technology brought PVC, mesh fabric, and perforated leather into the history of fashion.
This season, Premiata is playing around with leather cutouts and perforated leather, while Laura Bellariva is playing around with PVC (buckles and encrusted clear plastic in the heel).
The concept of transparency by using mesh is widely recognized in GreyMer, Vic Matie, RBRSL, McQ collections.
Another quite futuristic statement is made by RBRSL, Ixos, Malloni, and Vic Matie, where transparent epoxy and rubber soles are dominant.
The aesthetic of comfort - loafers and ballerinas
What’s most important in slip-on shoes? The answer is quite simple but essential: the construction, leather, and sole!
Pomme D'Or and Rare
The seamless, envelope-like “Sacchetto“ construction dominates in Pomme D‘Or and Italian Anna Baiguera (new at DOLITA). Translated from Italian, “Sacchetto” means “small bag”. This sewing technique requires a great deal of diligence, knowledge, and precision. Each piece of leather is hand-cut. Then, a small leather bag is sewn from the leather, which is turned inside out and hand-sewn to the sole. This nearly seamless construction makes the shoe soft, flexible, light, and guarantees comfort.
Anna Baiguera
Also, take a look at the seams in Premiata, Pantanetti, and new at DOLITA for men - Rare, O‘Keeffe. These brands feature double seams, providing the shoe with water-resistance. However, this doesn’t make the shoe any thicker or harder. Quite the contrary - when the sole is bent, the seams almost act as supportive bars.
Like a second skin. For slip-on shoes, only extremely soft, durable, flexible, and glove-like leather is used. The DOLITA team always focuses on the highest standards of quality when putting together collections. Many years of experience, sewing technologies, and leather-work are all extremely important when picking out collections.
Pantanetti for men and for women
Premiata ir O‘Keefee for men
Sneakers for all occasions
At the start of the season, our customers often ask, “Will massive, bright, neon, minimalistic, and decorated shoes still be in fashion next season?”, to which we always answer, “YES, and this year, you get all of this plus eclecticism”. This is because designers not only love to play around with colors but there are also many different themes: romantic plus futuristic, minimalistic plus twisted, calm plus chaotic. Sneakers can be perfect for any occasion!
BANU for women and men
McQ by Alexander McQueen for women
McQ by Alexander McQueen for men
Y-3 for men ir Premiata for women
BANU and Laura Bellariva
This season, sneakers are extra bright and colorful. Brands such as Premiata, Laura Bellariva, Fru.it, or Voile Blanche have brought in not only new colors but also newly-shaped soles and shoe trees.
McQ by Alexander McQueen for men
McQ has revolutionized their neo-gothic mood and their sneakers are very eccentric this season.
Vic Matie is playing around with neon details, while Flower Mountain is playing around with color and graphic elements.
This season, Flower Mountain is presenting an exclusive model in their collection - Flower Mountain x Bruce Lee Club, dedicated to Bruce Lee, who was a martial arts expert, actor, and one of the most charismatic figures of martial arts in the 20th century. Bruce Lee not only popularized martial arts on the movie screen but also created his very own style Jeet Kune Do.
P448 is another NEW Italian brand! P448 is a creative project born from the creativity and Italian mastery of the designers. P448 shoes for HIM and HER are the fusion of the modern lifestyle, street trends, and original ideas: the perfect blend of sportswear and fashion. Express yourself with an Italian twist!
P448 for women
P448 for men
P448 for women
P448 for men
P448 for women
Italian minimalism
In the spring/summer 2020 collection, there’s a clear minimalistic attitude. Why is it precisely this trend that is so significant in fashion this season? And why are the Japanese and Swedish minimalistic cultures abruptly invading designer collections? Why the sudden rebirth of minimalism overall? The spring/summer collection of 2020 can easily be called a kind of fashion renaissance, so it would be sinful not to pay enough attention to it.
Anna Baiguera and Vic Matie
Rare
It would be wrong to say that only the color white can be considered the symbol of minimalism, modesty, and asceticism. Color has a huge influence on the shape. Similar to K. Malevich’s “Black Square” - there’s no point in searching for a hidden meaning, and there’s really no correct way to look at it - each client can see whatever they want in a solid color shoe.
Premiata ir O‘Keefee
Italians only keep the essential details while rejecting all unnecessary details. The color alone already creates the shape, so simply the wrinkling part of the leather is enough to change the shape and mood of the whole shoe.
Halmanera and McQ by Alexander McQueen
MESH
Braiding, lacing, knitting, mesh… All of this came into fashion back in 5500 BC in ancient Egypt. The first elements of weaving - mesh were made with papyrus, which was used to make sandals. Later, jute rope and raffia were introduced in ancient Spain. This was a very complicated craft requiring a great deal of mastery. There were countless weaving patterns in ancient civilizations: from the Vikings all the way to China.
Egyptians sandals
Mattia Capezzani for men
The 11th-century mesh was made from nylon string or reshaped leather. Actually, Premiata still uses woven leather in their collections to this day. This not only reflects the “Made in Italy” philosophy but also highlights how valuable crafts are in the modern world.
Although the history of mesh isn’t very rich, it has become an integral part of today’s fashion. It first appeared in fashion in 1888 when British mill owner Lewis Haslam noticed a few holes in his aunt’s gloves and had an idea. L. Haslam created an original “Aertex” mesh fabric, which was labeled as hygienic and breathable despite temperature changes. Initially, the fabric was used for creating men’s shirts and underwear. In the ‘80s, Adidas began to use “Aertex” fabrics for their sportswear. The popularity of mesh kept growing: celebrities wore mesh vests, dresses, and all of this was brightly reflected on MTV.
Today, mesh elements are common in footwear collections at Premiata, Fru.it, Ixos, Vic Matie, and other brands.
Woven, perforated, or laser-cut leather is also considered part of the mesh trend. Such leather is dominant in Fru.it, Halmanera, Premiata, Strategia, and other brands.
One of the brightest trends is fabric woven shoes! this trend has already managed to take over celebrity Instagrams, fashion magazines and, of course, DOLITA shelves!
Snakeskin prints
In the past, in order to get a certain print on leather, everything had to be done by hand: dyed, tinted, then imprinted or cut up. As the leather industry is quickly moving forward, it’s become much easier to create any desired print, texture, or color. However, not every factory is able to create leather with prints and colors that would truly resemble snake or reptile skin. Third world countries offer colorful snakeskin prints on the market but unfortunately, that’s just faux leather or vinyl. Not every leather processing company takes on the task of creating this effect on soft, naturally-tanned leather. But only Italian and Spain companies can make this leather.
Embossed leather to emulate snake-skin
To ensure that the leather prints and transitions look beautifully, each piece of leather is individually dyed and pressed before beginning the sewing process. By hand or using special equipment, natural leather is first dyed, then pressed, and then covered with special dye fixers. Finally, the complete shoe is put in a special dyeing machine to give the leather a distinctive, aged effect.
Fashion chaos and eclecticism are dominant in both classic and sporty models, especially this season!
New at DOLITA – D.MILANO, founded by two brothers Pasqualio and Giovanni Della Pia. D.MILANO footwear is extremely feminine, with a hint of retro disco and an avant-garde twist.
Snakeskin prints are very popular this season. They’re truly a timeless classic. But this season, designers are playing around with colors and giving the shoes different optical shapes and colors.
Mattia Capezzani
Fashion itself is an incredibly broad concept but its main idea and function is to sense something that represents the present time and screams, “you need this now!”. That’s how stylish lifestyle guides, social media fashion icons, and, most importantly, seasonal fashion trend lists are born. However, fashion historians, critics, and reviewers have recently been facing a pressing problem - at this age of such an internet and information overload, is it still possible to identify one main fashion trend even though new fashion trends emerge on social media almost daily?
The most important task here for fashion houses and companies forming their assortment and collections is to remain different, unique, and to form not only universal but also unique, individual collections and trends. Ever since 1993, DOLITA has been featuring very individual and unique collections. Focus on design, quality, and details was, is, and will always be the cornerstone of all DOLITA collections.
To us, individual taste is just as important as current trends are. We make sure to have something for every taste by picking out Italian and Spanish collections with different stylistics, design, brand philosophy, and history. Uniqueness is becoming the greatest value.
“Fashion, as we know it today, is dying”, – said fashion historian Li Edelkoort during an interview. There is some truth in that but by no means should we be sad about it. Quite the contrary, fashion is just moving on to another dimension. Gradually, the fast-fashion boom is declining and respect for exclusivity, mastery, and value in labels “Made in Italy” and “Made in Spain” is returning. It’s like magical realism, where centuries-old footwear traditions are coming to light in the modern world.
At DOLITA, you’ll find exclusive collections for all occasions and all tastes. Find even more designer footwear at DOLITA stores and online: women and men.