MILAN—Italian luxury shoe designer Giuseppe Zanotti and award-wining multitalented artist, Mary J. Blige are transforming their longtime friendship into an exclusive collaboration.
After years of creating special pieces for the Queen of Hip-Hop’s live performances and music videos, the two are making their decades-long creative partnership official with a limited-release “Giuseppe for Mary J. Blige” boot to coincide with Blige’s “Strength of a Woman” festival this May in New York City.
Inspired by the sleekly folded, voluminous thigh-high boots Giuseppe custom created for Blige’s performance during her upcoming music festival, the limited-edition boots are a slouchy, over-the-knee version in mirrored rose gold with a block heel.
“Mary is a trailblazer—in music, in culture and in style,” says Giuseppe. “She is confidence and glamour but there’s also a warmth and realness to her and I wanted to convey that incredible mix into “The Mary Boot”.”
For Blige, who reconnected with Giuseppe during a recent showroom visit in NYC, the idea for the collab was a natural extension after years of donning Zanotti shoes, even citing the designer in her 2006 hit single “Enough Cryin”. Her propensity for thigh-high boots has served as a defining quality of her style, and she reaches for Giuseppe Zanotti’s most frequently.
“Everyone is always asking me “When will you come out with boots?” says Blige. “Well, here they are! I’ve always loved Giuseppe’s aesthetic and how he combines Italian sophistication with this edgy energy. We’re so excited to finally share these with the world.”
