Why Burberry's new shoe design is considered weird and terrible

Burberry's newly launched Rubber Highland Mules are priced at VND21,537,000. (Photo: GC Images)

High-end fashion house Burberry has just launched the Rubber Highland Mules, a rubber shoe designed as a hybrid between a clog and a short boot, to bring comfort and style in London's rainy weather.

This unusual design is a creative collaboration between the world's leading fashion brand and Harrods - the UK's most prestigious shopping mall.

Made in Italy, the Rubber Highland Mules feature a square toe, a front that covers the instep to the ankle and is perforated with decorative perforations, an open back heel, and a 9cm high heel. The lining is made of quilted lambskin, which Harrods says “will provide comfort with every step.”

In addition, the shoes are also attached with a removable rubber knight-on-horse charm - a symbol of Burberry.

The shoe model is listed by Burberry at 690 pounds, equivalent to 21,537,000 VND.

Close-up of Burberry's rain boots, a hybrid between clogs and rubber boots. (Photo: Burberry)

This new product represents a bold effort by Burberry and Harrods to redefine the boundaries between utilitarian fashion and luxury fashion.

With both brands having their headquarters in London, a city known for its heavy rainfall, the collaboration aims to provide customers with a shoe that combines both practicality and fashion.

The product description on Harrods' website highlights the new shoe's suitability for rainy conditions, with a rubber construction reminiscent of traditional rain boots but also stylish, with a 9cm heel and luxurious quilted leather lining.

However, the shoe's launch has sparked a mixed reaction online, with some praising the design and color palette, while others question the utility of the high-top, open-toe shoes in rainy and muddy conditions.

Priced at £690, many consider these to be the most expensive and worst rain boots of all time.

They said the shoe was easy to wear because “you could just slip it on barefoot like a pair of slippers and run around the countryside,” but also questioned how “you would cross muddy fields in 3.5-inch heels in the rain?”

Comments on the practicality and price of the Rubber Highland Mules have been polarizing on social media, further highlighting the debate in the fashion industry about the balance between practicality and aesthetic radicalism, especially in luxury fashion items aimed at niche markets.

giay burbery.jpg — The shoes are adorned with Burberry's famous equestrian knight charm. (Photo: BNN)

The launch of the Highland Heeled Mules by Burberry and Harrods can be seen as a test of where the luxury fashion industry is headed, particularly when it comes to incorporating unique materials and designs into traditional luxury products.

As the industry continues to evolve, collaborations like these could pave the way for more bold and creative fashion statements, challenging the status quo and potentially redefining what is considered luxurious or practical in high fashion.

The mixed reactions also underscore the importance of brands understanding the mindset of luxury consumers, who increasingly value uniqueness and standout products over conventional utility.

As the debate over Mules continues, it remains to be seen whether this bold combination of practicality and high fashion will create a new trend in the luxury market, or whether it will simply be remembered as a bizarre experiment.

However, it is clear that Burberry and Harrods have succeeded in sparking a conversation that reflects larger changes in the fashion industry, emphasizing innovation and challenging traditional definitions of luxury and practicality./.

(Vietnam+)

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