Naturalizer unveils debut collaboration with June Ambrose
Celebrity stylist June Ambrose_ who has worked with Jay-Z and Missy Elliott and was a creative partner with Puma_ has unveiled her first collaboration with Caleres_ women_s footwear brand Naturalizer as the brand's global ambassador and guest creative director.
Drawing on her experience combining sport and fashion_ fashion disruptor Ambrose has created a capsule collection rooted in comfort that aims to offer a new approach to women_s footwear_ “one that reflects a shift in what women across generations demand from their daily fashion_” explains the brand in the press release.
The June Ambrose x Naturalizer collection_ called _Style-letics__ debuts with two statement styles_ the _Nova-Shaft_ and _Zyra__ designed for the “sport of daily life”. Merging fashion aesthetics with athletic codes_ each shoe aims to “give couture but move with ease_” adds the brand_ infusing the celebrity stylists' high fashion and streetwear experience with the nearly 100-year-old footwear brand's expertise in comfort and fit.
Commenting on the debut drop_ Ambrose said in a statement: “Style-letics is the new choreography of fashion. It_s this fusion of culture_ movement_ and identity_ the way women really live.
“Every day is a sport. Every schedule is a sprint. And I wanted to create a language where style flexes with us_ not against us. Style doesn_t have to hurt to be powerful.”
June Ambrose launches sport-infused shoe capsule for Naturalizer
The _Nova-Shaft_ offers a new sandal-boot hybrid silhouette_ bringing together a sleek and sporty stiletto sandal with a detachable knee-high boot cuff that fits over the stiletto. The 2-in-1 style is available in brown snake print leather and black leather_ and features Naturalizer_s Rezorb responsive cushioning for superior shock absorption and impact protection for a sneaker-like feel.
This is joined by the _Zyra__ a ghillie lace-up stiletto pump with sneaker-inspired construction and cushioning_ infused with Naturalizer_s signature contour and comfort foam footbed technology. This style comes in four colourways: black_ white_ wine red_ and metallic lime green.
Natelle Baddeley_ chief design and product officer at Caleres_ added: “Working with June began with a single_ clear idea she articulated on day one: Style-letics. That became our north star – the belief that performance and style don_t compete. They collaborate.
“What makes this collaboration truly unique is the tension June loves to play in: pairing sport-forward construction with unexpected luxury finishes_ colours_ and materials. The result is footwear that shows up for everyday life with an undeniable attitude.”
The full collection designed by Ambrose will drop in March_ featuring five styles_ two sneakers_ and three hybridised dress shoes “that challenge traditional categories”. All of which will take visual cues from athletic footwear_ such as blending premium leather_ evolved reptiles_ and performance materials_ like textural meshes_ with sport codes like reflective stripe detailing_ Velcro closures for easy fit adjustments_ rubbery traction outsoles_ and athletic grade foams for insoles and midsoles for ultimate flexibility and cushioning.
The debut drop will be exclusive to Naturalizer_s website_ with prices ranging from 295 to 350 US dollars. The full collection in March will be available at Naturalizer_ as well as Macy_s and Nordstrom.
Jay Schmidt_ chief executive officer at Caleres_ added: “Our focus continues to be on building our lead brands with enduring cultural authority - brands that honour their origin while continuing to evolve. Naturalizer has long defined what comfort means for women.
“This collaboration with June Ambrose underscores how comfort and trend are mutually reinforcing forces. By bringing together Naturalizer's fit legacy and product innovation with visionary creative voices like June_ we're expanding what modern comfort looks like_ while keeping this Caleres lead brand firmly at the centre of today's style conversation.”