Givenchy’s TK-360 ‘single-knit’ sneaker provides a contemporary approach to savoir-faire
Photographed on a sculptural artwork by British artist Ewan Macfarlane, the TK-360 sneaker by Matthew M Williams encapsulates the designer’s contemporary approach to Givenchy’s historic association with savoir-faire and craft

Intricate feats of savoir-faire have defined Givenchy since its beginnings in 1952, the house’s namesake founder Hubert de Givenchy learning the art of couture – whereby each garment is sewn entirely by hand by a dedicated team of ‘petites mains’ – from masters of the post-war era, Jacques Fath and Elsa Schiaparelli.
Seven decades on, the house’s current creative director Matthew M Williams brings this same fastidious approach to his collections. Tracing the maison’s legacy through a sleek, contemporary lens, he meshes tough elements of metal hardware with lean silhouettes and smatterings of embellishment. Those who follow the designer on Instagram can see these imaginative leaps: Williams posts galleries that flip between images of Hubert de Givenchy’s original designs and his own riffs on the house’s archive.
The story behind the Givenchy TK-360 sneaker
The Givenchy TK-360 sneaker
But Williams is also a designer for whom technical innovation is key, and his own take on Parisian savoir-faire is epitomised in a new sneaker, the TK-360, shown here on a sculptural artwork created for the house by British multimedia artist Ewan Macfarlane. The shoe’s unique shape and fit – sleek and sporty, with a bold rounded back – are achieved from a singular piece of stretch-knit fabric, crafted directly onto the custom-moulded sole (it even extends over the sneaker’s underside, giving the TK-360 a unique tread and entirely monochrome appearance).
Initial colours include classic black and optic white, as well as more vivid shades of acid yellow, graphite grey, camel, and pink. Williams calls it his ‘dream shoe’. ‘There is a sense of savoir-faire for sportswear created at a fashion company like Givenchy that is different from a sportswear company, but no less rigorous,’ says Williams. Of the unique design, whereby the knit tread will eventually show signs of wear, he adds, ‘Clothes and accessories can have a life where they evolve and change and take on history. The more these shoes wear, the more history they have.’
INFORMATION
A version of this article appears in the July 2022 issue of Wallpaper*. Subscribe today!
givenchy.com
@givenchy
@matthewmwilliams
Jack Moss is the Fashion Features Editor at Wallpaper*. Having previously held roles at 10, 10 Men and AnOther magazines, he joined the team in 2022. His work has a particular focus on the moments where fashion and style intersect with other creative disciplines – among them art and design – as well as championing a new generation of international talent and profiling the industry’s leading figures and brands.
-
Rado’s ceramic watches take inspiration from the world’s great gardens
New additions to the Rado True Thinline watch collection reinterpret exotic plants
By Hannah Silver • Published
-
‘Meaningful disruption’: Heron Preston launches L.E.D. Studio, a convention-defying creative hub
Part art and design studio, part sustainability practice, Heron Preston’s L.E.D. Studio builds on the world he has built at his eponymous New York City-based fashion label. Here, he tells Wallpaper* more
By Pei-Ru Keh • Published
-
Exploring Punta del Este, the southern hemisphere’s hub for art and relaxation
Punta del Este offers everything, from party to relaxation; all enveloped in idyllic countryside and a rich cultural offering
By Rainbow Nelson • Published
-
John Lobb’s ‘Cannon’ sneakers are an exercise in minimal design
John Lobb’s sleek ‘Cannon’ sneakers continue the British heritage shoemaker’s foray into sportier terrain – crafted with all the precision of its classic styles
By Jack Moss • Published
-
These innovative Dior shoes bridge past, present and future
Inspired by an ornate Dior pump from 1962, Maria Grazia Chiuri’s just-released ‘62-22’ shoes give the classic design a futuristic update. Watch how they are made in this special short film
By Jack Moss • Last updated
-
Superga’s ‘Artifact’ collection celebrates over 100 years of craft
Designed by Teppei Sugaya, the ‘Artifact’ collection by Superga explores the Italian shoe brand’s historic archive, with each launch arriving with a film celebrating artisans and hand-craft around the world
By Martha Elliott • Last updated
-
Loewe’s ‘readymade’ heels give outfits a Surrealist flourish
The head of a rose, a bar of soap, a candle dripping with wax – Loewe’s surreal heels see creative director Jonathan Anderson draw inspiration from artist Man Ray’s ‘readymades’
By Laura Hawkins • Last updated
-
Eco footwear pioneer Allbirds launches apparel line
The San Francisco-based sustainable shoe brand launches its first clothing collection, crafted using TrinoXO
By Laura Hawkins • Last updated
-
These Koio sneakers boast mini Bradley Duncan sculptures
Disruptive unisex sneaker label Koio cuts a strong figure with artist collaborator Bradley Duncan
By Pei-Ru Keh • Last updated
-
Pillow talk: Magniberg and Our Legacy launch upcycled bedding
Fold yourself into Swedish design brand Magniberg's upcycled approach to bedding
By Laura Hawkins • Last updated
-
Tread lightly: eco trainers to minimise your carbon footprint
By Nick Compton • Last updated