Bronx
Man Enough
Iconic shoe brand Bronx has long been a part of the South African fashion scene. Influenced by the streets of New York, Bronx shoes are known for their unique styling and appeal to fashion-conscious men.
Bronx shoes are known for being stylish, comfortable and durable. Inspiration from music, youth culture and street fashion is what the Bronx design crew use to keep coming up with new designs that are on trend, ensuring that men look stylish from the feet up, no mater what the day brings.
I’ve had a privileged opportunity to speak to Gordon Gassert, Head Men’s Designer at Bronx – Gordon did a year of graphic design after military service but didn’t enjoy it so he got into designing ladies shoes and after 4 years in that field he started on men’s styling and later on became the Head designer at the Bronx Men’s department.
“I think that lasting 16 years in this game is quite an accomplishment!
It is a short time compared to some of my colleagues but seeing how things are constantly changing in this industry is amazing – I am still learning new things every day”
I asked Gordon: What are the biggest trends in Bronx Men’s Shoes this season?
Boots, boots and more boots in various cuts and materials. Brogues are still
big as well as boat shoes. Casual comfortable shoes are also still popular.
Popular Boots in the Bronx range include the Gas boot (crushed leather boot), which adds a cool look to dark denims jeans. Our Baker boot is inspired by the military look, the Baker is a trendy, masculine and rugged boot that can be perfectly paired with anything from dark denims to cargo pants. We have utilized high quality materials in the development of the boot, which ensures durability and added comfort whilst being ‘on trend’ this season. Men's suede boots are always a hit for winter and this year is no exception. Though they're typically a bit more casual than their shiny leather counterparts – our Veld suede boots are a must for a cool laid-back look.
My Choice in Bronx Boots!
Bronx is famously known for their high quality products, how important is style and trends for the Bronx design team?
As much as we would love to be setting the trends the fact is that we take what’s hot out there and tweak the styles or materials to suite our customer’s needs – that way men can feel comfortable in the knowledge that they look stylish without being over the top.
As head of the Bronx Men’s Design team how do you come up with new concepts and design ideas?
Traveling abroad to see what’s happening in European fashion-footwear, another great way is by reading international men’s fashion magazines and surfing the Internet to cuts down on travel costs. Customer feedback is also valuable and often sparks off new ideas for the range.
Fashion is an extension of your own individuality, how would you describe your style?
I am a laid-back kind of guy, so I prefer a more casual-comfortable-look with a touch of grunge – you know…worn in jeans, t-shirts and a cool pair of Bronx shoes!
Why should men in South Africa buy Bronx shoes in your opinion?
Bronx caters specifically to all the different age groups and their needs by offering fashionable, comfortable and trend relevant footwear.
Can you tell me more about the new Bronx Man-Enough Campaign?
Bronx is famous for bold styling and appeal to masculine South African men; we recently launched a new print marketing campaign and tag line to promote the brands new strategic positioning. Our new Man-Enough campaign is all about promoting the Bronx brand’s tough & durable range of shoes.
What can we expect from the Bronx Brand in the near future in terms of campaigns or collections for men in South Africa?
My focus is to produce more and more of our product locally and we are slowly achieving that. In doing so Bronx can offer far better quality footwear by having a much wider range of leathers to work with. I am a firm believer in quality and would encourage men to spend more money on their shoes.
Special Thank You To:
Bronx for letting me feature their amazing brand.
Gordon Gassert for giving us insight into the world of design at Bronx.
Chanel Ponto for setting-up and making this post possible.
Keep It Fab
StanRaw
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