TORONTO, ON – October 24, 2019 – In celebration of a shared dedication to no-compromise luxury lifestyle products for Canadians, luxury automotive brand Lexus announced today an exclusive limited-edition sneaker collaboration with renowned menswear designer Christopher Bates. Now available via Lexus Boutique orders at Lexus Dealers across the country, the men’s and women’s shoes were inspired by the Lexus UX – a bold compact crossover for the urban explorer, swathed in quality craftsmanship, edgy design and supple materials.
“Style and craftsmanship are core pillars of the Lexus brand so we‘re honoured to partner with iconic Canadian designer Christopher Bates,” said Robert Tsang, Director of Lexus in Canada. “Our shared values have resulted in a sneaker that makes an undeniable statement on the street – just like the Lexus UX does on the road.”
The fully customized limited-edition sneaker, proudly produced in Italy using the finest manufacturers in the world incorporates many recognizable design elements from the Lexus UX itself, such as: the striking Circuit Red colour, perforated upholstery materials and signature black and white colouring from the Lexus F SPORT models. Design inspiration includes the use of the side profile and signature Lexus spindle grille, a racing stripe down the center of the tongue and tasteful Lexus branding. Variations in sole design mark the differences in the sneakers for both men and women.
“Working with Lexus on this customized shoe collaboration has been an incredible experience, one I’m excited to finally debut,” states Christopher Bates. “Lexus has long established itself as a luxury leader in the automotive lifestyle industry, which draws many parallels to how I’m building the Christopher Bates brand and I hope this is the beginning of a long and successful partnership.”
The partnership follows an exciting year for Christopher Bates, after being named the Canadian Arts and Fashion Awards (CAFAs) Menswear Designer of the Year, and national expansion of his namesake brand into Nordstrom retail locations across Canada. Christopher Bates has established himself as a Canadian staple in the fashion community – having redesigned the Air Canada uniforms and announcing other brand collaborations with Harry Rosen and MTV, alongside celebrating a decade in fashion design with his namesake label.
The Lexus UX is a compact crossover that is tailor made for modern urban explorers. It drives like a performance sedan, expresses brave styling and master craftsmanship from every angle, and features intuitive technologies that keep Lexus Guests connected to the people and things that matter to them. The UX series is headlined by the UX 250h all-wheel-drive, a self-charging hybrid electric compact crossover.
