With the Australian summer just around the corner, a comfy pair of slip-on shoes is non-negotiable as the desire to wear socks evaporates like morning dew. To this end, the team at Aimé Leon Dore has once again delivered the goods with the launch of the Garden Mule shoe, available in a quartet of colours and ready to challenge your Birks for warm weather supremacy.
While the seasonal clothing collections from ALD have continued to impress, it’s the enthusiasm for footwear over the last couple of years that have grabbed our attention, releasing a number of collaborative sneakers with New Balance (as well as opening a new store in London’s Soho district). The Garden Mule is the first effort of its kind by the Teddy Santis-founded streetwear label, signalling a new era of ALD-branded shoes that are perfect for everyday errand running, or simply to wear around the home.
The Garden Mule collection is available in your choice of black, white, forest green or summery yellow, with the upper element made predominantly from EVA foam that is blended with 15% rubber. The single-piece upper houses the removable cork footbed, which features a laser etched Aimé Leon Dore logo and takes a leaf out of the Birkenstock playbook on how to make a comfortable pair of laceless kicks.
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The silhouette of the Garden Mule sweeps cleanly from the toe to the heel, with a slightly blocky front end that reminds you of more traditional clogs and a modest lip at the heel to keep your foot from slipping out unintentionally. The sole features a robust tread pattern to keep you on your feet if things get slippery, as well as the ALD logo and size.
While not technically a part of the recently released ALD FW22 collection, the Garden Mules will sit alongside the more formal ALD Penny Loafer that was released as a part of the new season. Between the two-tone leather loafers and the mule, you’ll be covered anywhere you might find yourself over the next few months.
So if your Birkenstocks are a little worse for wear, or you’re just looking for another option to keep your feet comfy on cork, the Aimé Leon Dore Garden Mule could be exactly what you’ve been looking for. They’re currently available with an RRP of $160.
