From Laurel leaf to Bronte

Having Athens serving as a big source of inspiration for us is more than just doing a photoshoot in the city of Atens which illuminates the mind and the senses. It is also about research and how we can apply elements such as colours, symbols and characteristics to our collections.

The laurel tree, is an evergreen plant with large, shiny, green leaves, native to the Mediterranean region. The Laurel leaf wreath design has captivated our attention with its distinction for centuries. The circular shape of interlocking branches is a historic crowning emblem that resonates victory and glory.

History states that in Ancient Greece, beginning in 776 BC, wreaths of laurel leaves crowned victors of athletic competitions of the ancient Olympic games. Laurel leaves also had interesting symbolic meanings. Laurel leaves were believed to inspire creativity, and hence, they were placed under the pillow at night for creative inspiration through symbolic dreams.

Being such a powerful and timeless symbol we decided to apply a laurel leaf inspired pattern on our most athletic inspired style. The BRONTE has a clean design aesthetic. The clean vamp on the front of the shoe gives the opportunity to use a laurel crown-inspired hand-woven detail to give texture and depth to this style.

The pictures above show our first sketch (left), first prototype test (middle) and our first production uppers from the Laurel Leaf inspired Bronte (right).