DISCOVER THE REEBOK CLUB C LTD WITH THE DESIGNER EVAN BELFORTI
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For nearly four decades, the Club C has stood as a testament to enduring style. Originating as a shoe inspired by tennis but embraced as a lifestyle staple, its journey is a testament to its ability to transcend its original purpose and etch a unique history. In the realm of heritage footwear, Evan Belforti – Senior Footwear Designer at Reebok LTD, who created the Reebok Club C LTD – typically gravitates towards stories woven through years of evolution within a product line. However, the Club C captivates him for a different reason: its unwavering consistency. Amidst a world in constant flux, the Club C has found its place in a multitude of settings, seamlessly fitting into niches as diverse as the court, the skatepark, and everyday fashion.
The opportunity to reimagine such an iconic shoe for Reebok is an exhilarating prospect. While Evan's prior work often delves into more progressive silhouettes, he's always harbored an interest in stepping into the realm of "Classic" sneakers. "This design features a completely new upper and midsole, but the goal was to retain the key elements of the Club C. The upper features new patterning that elongates the internal lines of the shoe, an update to the shoe’s overall silhouette, and new elements of layering and adding texture seen in the eyelet and the perforations", tells Evan.
Turning to the midsole, the objective was to preserve the low profile and asymmetry of the original Club C, but with an enhanced embrace of the upper. "The midsole features several splits that divide the taller shape, with a textured front panel, and an extended lip inspired by some of the court shoes of the 80s", explains Evan.