Mikio Sakabe’s Grounds Updates Oxfords, Mary Janes and Other Styles With Exaggerated Bubble Platforms
Renan Botelho
Senior Digital Editor
Mikio Sakabe debuted his fall 2024 collection during Tokyo Fashion Week on Thursday, marking his return to the event’s official calendar after a three-year hiatus. On the runway, models walked in over-the-top shoe styles provided by his footwear brand, Grounds.
Founded in 2018, Grounds quickly became known in the fashion scene for its exaggerated outsoles, which often resemble giant bubbles. This time, at Sakabe’s fall 2024 show, the brand pushed the concept even further while updating classic footwear silhouettes, such as oxfords, Mary Janes and loafers.
One of the most eye-catching style introduced on the runway was a white leather dress shoe with a bubble-like platform sole that reached at least 4 inches in height.
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Sakabe is known for constantly challenging traditional fashion norms with his designs. With Grounds, the designer aims to emphasize the importance of shoes as architectural elements that connect humans to the earth. The brand’s goals are to “make people more conscious of gravity, which is closely related to time” so they can “connect with higher dimensions,” according to Grounds website. Sakabe has also previously talked about creating designing from the feet up.
Grounds’ shoes are available for purchase on grounds-fw.jp. The brands offer Free shipping to the U.S. on all orders above $260.00
Tokyo Fashion Week, also known as Tokyo Collection, is a bi-annual fashion trade show that showcases luxury, ready-to-wear and streetwear brands presenting their spring and fall collections. It is renowned for its avant-garde and experimental fashion displays, as well as its emphasis on Tokyo streetwear.
