MENU
Close
On September 1, 2026, Yohji Yamamoto x Repetto unveiled its third collaboration, returning to the French shoemaker’s ballet archive for an unlikely hybrid: part pointe shoe, part loafer, and considerably darker than balletcore’s usual sweetness.
On September 1, 2026, Yohji Yamamoto x Repetto unveiled its third collaboration, returning to the French shoemaker’s ballet archive for an unlikely hybrid: part pointe shoe, part loafer, and considerably darker than balletcore’s usual sweetness.
September 1, 2026
The starting point is Repetto’s Bolchoï, named after the Russian ballet company and originally informed by traditional pointe-shoe construction. Yamamoto preserves its most recognisable technical detail: an architectural forefoot with a structured front wall and fine pleating that recalls the rigid box supporting a dancer’s toes. An elasticated collar gathers the leather around the foot, while the broader shape introduces the relaxed profile of a moccasin.
Black and white form the core release, joined by a vivid red and metallic silver available through selected Japanese stores. The collaboration officially launches September 14, following a limited Isetan Shinjuku pre-sale on September 5 and 6.
Balletcore has dominated several seasons cycling through satin, bows, ribbons and increasingly literal dance references. Yohji Yamamoto x Repetto instead looks beneath ballet’s prettiness and focuses on its engineering.
The collaboration exposes a tougher side already embedded in the pointe shoe itself. Yohji Yamamoto x Repetto turns discipline, structure and movement into a ballet flat with considerably more bite.
