A New Relationship
With Gravity
By Jee Young Park | Co-Founder
March 14, 2025
Grounds—the futuristic, experimental brand designed by Mikio Sakabe whose sneakers are sure to illicit a “WHAT ARE THOSE?!”—just took another step forward with their first Paris runway show. In the past, grounds has opted for presentations, “serving up” their SS25 collection on plates at Chez Omar. Reception has been positive if not flat out enthusiastic for the forward yet comfortable sneakers and as proof, grounds is currently sold in 145 stores in 22 countries.
Betsy Johnson, the Paris based conceptual artist and creative director styled the looks. Johnson cast the avant-garde soles within the context of “lazy” everyday looks, adding a “sensual twist.” In effect, otherwordliness found a counterpoint in a lived-in state: disheveled hair, disjointed multiple belts, off-center sunglasses. These were weary travelers or aloof eccentrics, maybe taking us forward in time to a broken world, indicated by the rough backdrop. Also seen here is grounds’ futuristic eyewear line, which further fleshes out Sakabe’s new image of humans and the surrealistic scene. Hence the title, “uncanny valley.”
Grounds is no stranger to gracing runways or riding the waves of popular appeal, seemingly popping up everywhere you look. Sakabe has previously worked with Walter Van Beirendonck to create playful, spiked shoes and November of last year, Camila Cabello amplified the brand’s already burgeoning presence in pop culture (New Jeans and XG have both worn grounds in live performances and music videos) through a collaboration of their “moopie” style. Mikio Sakabe’s enthusiasm to bring about a change in the relationship between humans and gravity bubbles over, quite literally, in his works and is sure to disarm even the most hardened fashion cynic.