If you have a social media account, chances are you will already be familiar with MSCHF’s latest viral release – the ‘Big Red Boot’.
Attracting virality is not new to Brooklyn based art collective MSCHF, who are well versed in drawing mass attention.
They have previously released Birkenstock sandals made from destroyed Birkin bags, a hard seltzer made with holy water and the Satan Shoes – customised Air Max 97s, made in collaboration with Lil Nas X, featuring a real drop of blood in the air bubble.
MSCHF are vocal about their sense of duty to test the boundaries of art and fashion and subvert popular and corporate culture as tools for critique and intervention.
Gabriel Whaley, the founder and CEO of MSCHF, has publicly spoken on this further, outlining that their perspective is “funny in a nihilistic way”, to make light of “how much everything sucks”.
Aptly described in their name, the Big Red Boot does exactly that.
Drawing comparisons from Astro Boy and Dora the Explorer, MSCHF describe their newest release as “cartoon boots for a cool 3D world”.
Designed with a TPU rubber shell and an EVA outsole and midsole, MSCHF label the footwear as more of an idea of a ‘boot’ and one that frees us from the constraints of reality – so that “if you kick someone in these boots they go boing!”.
Predictably, the online response to the release has been extremely polarising.
They have been the subject of relentless memes across Twitter and TikTok despite capturing the attention of the streetwear scene, with influencers taking to social media to style them and showcase the intense effort it takes to get such impractical footwear on and off.
The Big Red Boots have also acquired a whole host of famous fans from Janelle Monáe, Diplo and to the star of their campaign, Sarah Snyder.
With the campaign featuring Snyder running errands on her go-kart across New York City, it’s no surprise that they were seen on more famous feet at New York Fashion Week, which was perfectly timed with their release date.
MSCHF’s Big Red Boots went on sale on 16th February and given the virality of the shoes, unsurprisingly have already sold out across both MSCHF’s app and website – despite the $350 price tag.
So if you’re among the Big Red Boot lovers, you’ll have to patiently wait in line within the constraints of reality for the time being.
Words by Mia Warren
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