The outdoors as context and inspiration is the key to understanding who Salehe Bembury is. From his first great work with Yeezy, to his long-awaited Crocs and the very urban Versace, it’s easy to see the stylistic references of this designer, who knows how to push his ideas to the limit.
His two previous collaborations with New Balance already followed an outdoor aesthetic. The “Peace Be the Journey” colorway drew inspiration from the colors of the Antelope Canyon, while the “Water Be the Guide”, from the Havasu Falls. Two magnificent landscapes located in Arizona, the latter a couple of hundred miles further north.
The “YURT” capsule collection takes us to Asia instead. Yurt is the name of the circular dwellings used by nomads in Turkey, Mongolia, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, where it even appears on its flag. Simple and easy to transport, its use has become widespread in contexts very different from the original and has even reached Arizona.
