BALLY @ AW2013 Men & Women Collection

 BALLY’s AW2013 men collection is an inspiring 60th anniversary celebration of the historic first ascent of Mt. Everest in 1953. When Sherpa Tenzing Norgay took his final steps to the top of the world on May 29, 1953 alongside Sir Edmund Hillary, he did so in a pair of Bally Reindeer-Himalaya boots. Bally Creatives Graeme Fidler and Michael Herz have used this historic event that forever links the Swiss brand to this momentous achievement as the inspiration for their latest collection. Items from the original Everest expeditions housed in the Bally archive and the 60th anniversary have been used to refuel the brand’s pioneer spirit.

 The Everest collection of boots, leather outwear, ready-to-wear and accessories is the highlight of AW13, offering a unique luxurious interpretation of Bally milestones in an authentically elegant and contemporary style. The Bally Stripe - Capsule Collection and the new Cervo collection deliver sumptuous, functional elegance while the professional polish of the Bally Injection Moulded Lug Sole and Milano Business collections add the finishing touch.

Leather remains at the heart of every piece, complemented by rich natural wools, furs and other skins, all in an array of beautiful seasonal colours such loden, copper beech, charcoal, bark, flint, burnished brown and night sky carefully considered to reflect the alpine environment.

<The ‘Everest’ Collection> is a celebratory collection of boots, leather outwear, ready-to-wear and accessories to mark the 60^th anniversary of the first ascent of Mt Everest in 1953, during which Sherpa Tenzing Norgay wore his personalized Bally Reindeer-Himalaya boots. The <Injection Moulded Lug Sole> is a luxurious hard wearing city shoe that combines classic brogue style, Goodyear welt construction and a rubber sole that references Bally’s ‘360 Degree Non-Slip Grip’, first patented by the Swiss brand in 1919.

The <Cervo’ Collection> Sumptuous, lightweight and durable deer skin is used in a new collection of bomber jackets, shoes and bags exquisitely crafted to the highest standards. The <‘Milano’ Business Collection> The rich leathers and exceptional craftsmanship of the Milano dress office range are highlighted by four newly developed seasonal colours intended to bring individual lift and shine to the business world’s traditional monochrome landscape. The <‘Bally Stripe’ - Capsule Collection> A revamp of Bally’s signature red and white stripe, crafted in leather and sleekly integrated into a capsule collection of softly deconstructed casual bags.

The women's collection re-engineered as a collection that comprises in part, subtly boyish footwear, inspired accessories and luxuriously accessible ready-to-wear. Creative Directors Michael Herz and Graeme Fidler have found a multitude of ways to re-interpret the Swiss brand’s craftsmanship excellence.  Astutely finding consistent links to the many treasures from the 1940s and 50s within Bally’s rich archive, the design duo has re-imagined an array of essentials for the modern woman.

This adventurous spirit penetrates the soul of the entire collection. From the three main shoe categories - <Borrowed from the Boys>, <Urban Allure> and <Chic Après-Ski> to the transversal accessories and ready-to-wear, the mood is a seamless transition from the city environment to the alpine; a mood unified by a spontaneous mélange of superior leathers, suedes and furs. Modern feminine cuts are juxtaposed with boyish shapes and a sophisticated material mix, collaged together for a graphic effect.

 Within the accessories collection, special attention is given to the ‘Camera Bag’ as a re-engineered piece inspired by Lee Miller’s own traditional photo bags from the 1940s. Modeled in vegetan calfskin, featuring beautiful snap lock closure and secret pockets, the ‘Camera Bag’ is showcased as an exclusive capsule collection of four bags that form a striking seasonal highlight. In addition to the Classic version, the other structured and functional size variations are the Overnight, the Portfolio and the Mini.

Unadorned and devoid of print, the seasonal palette takes its cue from the soft beauty of the Swiss landscape. Dominated by natural, earthy shades, colours include: Bark, Light Fawn, Milk, Loden, Black and Glacier White, further complemented with dual-tone variations of Burnished Brown/Black, Black/White and Burnished Brown/White.