What do Beyoncé, Zayn Malik and JLo have in common (besides topping the charts)? They’ve all created collections with the legendary footwear designer Giuseppe Zanotti. And now, Zanotti has dropped a collection with superstar rapper Swae Lee that’s ultracool, gender neutral and will totally get your “feet game right!” says Swae.
The collection incorporates floral motifs and Swae’s favorite color—pink—as the base for the suede loafers, canvas boots and Blabber sneakers. Here, we chat with the duo about the inspiration behind the collab and where they love to kick back and relax when they're in the 305.
Giuseppe Zanotti and Swae Lee
How did you meet?
Giuseppe Zanotti: We met in Paris. But before, we met on technology.
Swae Lee: Cyberspace!
GZ: And before that, thanks to his music videos. That’s why I was excited to meet him.
SL: I had an old song before I met him where I sang about him. I’ve always been a fan of Giuseppe—even before I knew him. But it was crazy because I was in Paris for Fashion Week, and Mr. Giuseppe came to my hotel. I was upstairs getting ready for a show, and my people came to tell me that Mr. Giuseppe was downstairs and I was like, “Huh?!?” So I came down and we finally met in person and we clicked. The vibe was there so we made the shoe. We made it happen.
Why florals?
GZ: Flowers are all around us. And they're for everyone. These aren’t just men's shoes. They’re also for girls. They’re flexible. There are no limitations. And you can wear them with a formal outfit. When I’m driving around in my Lamborghini, these are the shoes I’m wearing.
SL: Hell yeah! And you receive flowers as a gift. These shoes are a gift.
Swae Lee
How does Miami inspire you?
SL: I love Miami. Miami is the nightlife capital of the world. And if you want to step out and be flashy, if you want to jump out of the foreign car like Mr. Giuseppe—you’ve gotta have your feet game right! Your feet complete the outfit. If you have a nice outfit but your shoes are lacking, your whole outfit takes an L. Miami is the perfect place to flex some nice flashy shoes. It’s the perfect timing too. The city is booming. A lot of different walks of life can come and see the product.
Where can we find you when you’re in town?
SL: You can find me on the beach or on a yacht with some girls, just relaxing and listening to some loud music. Or you can catch me at the Fontainebleau.
GZ: I’m at Mr. C in Coconut Grove. It’s a nice place. I know the family so it feels familiar. The pool is really nice. I’m red right now because I fell asleep by their pool!
