reinventing luxury // joe cooke, lead designer

 

From the sheepwool lining of the mahabis classic, to the lightweight breathable mesh that forms the summer edition, we thought we'd share the inspiration behind the creation of the mahabis luxe. We chat to lead designer Joe Cooke about how he designed the luxe, and how it differs from our timeless classic and summer designs. 

"The luxe was very much a natural but considered extension of the range. We felt like we had captured that feeling of downtime with the classic and summer slippers and hoped to elevate that experience with the creation of the mahabis luxe.

 

 

We maintained the crucial design features of the classic and summer slippers that make them distinctively mahabis: the collapsible neoprene heel, the silhouette and the detachable sole. But for the luxe, the upper is made from a single piece of a premium ultra-soft leather that we selected from Europe, near our factory in Portugal. For us, leather encapsulated that feeling of ultimate, timeless, quality. There are such a broad range of varying leathers, but we chose one that gave us the understated aesthetic that we desired from a distance, whilst maintaining a soft, detailed surface texture when held. We kept the 100% wool lining of the classic to bring equal comfort, soft-touch and warmth to the luxe.

 

  

We had a great product in the classic and summer, and they were being treasured and appreciated globally. As a result, we only tackled elements of the original design that were necessary to create a 'luxe' slipper. Whilst keeping the manufacturing process the same, the leather behaves in a very different way to the felt and mesh that we selected for the classic and summer. However, as this was an extension of the range, it was important to make sure the luxe joined the modular range so that it could also be worn with soles from the classic and summer. It’s fulfilling to see some customers own the entire range!

 

We kept the aesthetic refined and carefully considered two timeless colours with equivalent soles. To enable these mahabis to be the ultimate investment in switching off, we selected colours that conformed seamlessly to the environments in which mahabis were being worn. However, we also considered a range of beautiful variations that may be arriving in the future…stay tuned.

 

Check out the mahabis luxe here.

 

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