Camper opens new shoe store at L.A.’s Original Farmers Market
Camper, a Spanish version of Cole Haan, makes comfy heels and stylish sneaks for fashionistas who don’t want to sacrifice looks for comfort.
Based in the sunny Balearic island of Mallorca, Camper has opened a new store at the Original Farmers Market. The store walls are blanketed with flowery, petal-like sheets by Japanese artist Tokujin Yoshioka. Yoshioka, who was mentored by designer Issey Miyake, has collaborated with brands such as Hermes, Toyota and Swarovski on design concepts. Hee also designed “Honey-pop,” a paper chair that was exhibited at the Museum of Modern Art in New York.
In the 1990s, Camper made stylish sneakers that paired leather uppers with rubber soles for lower prices than those of competitors such as Prada. Now Camper produces pumps, such as the $175 Mamba, boots and sandals with the trademark rubber soles. The brand also offers non-hide options, such as wool ballet flats featuring partially recycled rubber outsoles. For the coming fall season, Camper collaborated with students from the Barcelona Design Center to produce a trendy ankle boot and spectator pump.
For men, Camper has a work-casual leather saddle shoe out this fall, also from the Barcelona student collaboration, with a rubber outsole and a shock-absorbing polyurethane insole for those who hoof it frequently. If you still equate the brand with a dressy gym shoe, the ACS ($180) is a leather sneaker featuring a neoprene Coolmax sock lining to keep feet cooler on warm days.
6333 W. 3rd St., Los Angeles. 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily.
EVENTS
Little Birds Thursday: Echo Park’s Tavin Boutique hosts the latest in its series of salon events, featuring New York Times-bestselling author Janelle Brown, who will read from her novel “This Is Where We Live.” Other readers include Jillian Lauren, “Some Girls: My Life in a Harem” and poet Mindy Kahn. Refreshments will be served.
1543 Echo Park Ave., Los Angeles. (213) 482-5832. 7:30 p.m.
Style Your Sole With Toms Saturday: Live! On Sunset hosts Toms shoes Style Your Sole event. Three local artists —Blair Urban, Derek Leitch and Jasmine — will custom-paint Toms shoes, bought at the event, with designs inspired by the theme “Where will your Toms take you in L.A?” Complimentary beverages, music and parking provided.
8801 W. Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. (310) 360-1660. 2 to 6 p.m.
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