P448 Paris
by Abdon FLORES
Founded in 2014, P448 is an Italian streetwear brand whose collections are designed to empower the individual in their own authenticity. The sneakers are thoughtfully designed and crafted in Italy by master artisans. Defined by an eclectic aesthetic, inspiration is taken from the streets, underpinned by the underground spirit of subculture.
This Italian footwear brand is rooted in the belief that eclecticism, design innovation and experimentation lie at the heart of self-expression. Built on this celebration of personal style and environmental impact innovation, P448 artfully pushes what’s possible in design through four annual collections. From the selection of materials, to the cutting of the leather, to the hand-stitching of the soles, every step of the production process is executed with meticulous attention to detail. Each P448 design is engineered to achieve perfection in both form and function.
The Paris store offers men’s and women’s footwear, apparel, and accessories. The 4,500 sq ft P448 Paris experience is composed of three different environments on the ground floor, a showroom on the second floor, and a hidden room where you can enjoy a shot of coffee or cocktail. The store’s purposefully relaxed and playful design includes an in-store skate ramp and work by a range of international street artists. Artists include Paris’ Pakone, UK’s Gone and LA-based British Artist Spraying Bricks.
P448’s first collection, RE:new, was made from recycled discarded scrap pieces leftover from traditional leather production. The leather fibers are combined with synthetic fibers and woven together in a process called ‘water fusion’. After undergoing various finishing phases, including pigmentation, the result is a single material roll. RE:new unique leather reduces environmental impact by 80% by drastically cutting back on the levels of waste, consumption, and energy that goes into traditional leather production.
The recycled suede collection was achieved using a chrome-free tanning method that reduces the amount of harmful chemicals used during the production process. This eco-sustainable process reduces water consumption by 67%, uses 52% less chemicals, and cut the CO2 emissions in half compared to standard tanning processes. Lastly, the Vegan collection was created using primarily BioVegan leather material. It is demonstrated that the BioVegan materials are more sustainable in use of natural resources and impact on climate change. BioVegan is a cruelty-free material derived from plant-based resources such as bio-polyols obtained from GMO-free corn crops and polyester collected from plastic bottles. The vegan and bio-sourced materials reduce the use of non-renewable resources by approximately 20% in fossil fuels and 44% in energy consumption. It also converts 60% of total waste into energy recovery.
M. Wayne Kulkin, CEO of P448, said concerning the boutique opening in Paris: “As we near the 2024 Paris Olympics, we especially wish to honor the skateboarding community. The evolution of the once largely illegal counterculture sport, to a catalyst in revitalizing urban areas, to a respected Olympic game is an inspiration to us. We wanted to express our support of those who question, and even rebel, both the visionaries and the outsiders. Our passion to mix and match, sport and space, cocktails with coffee, and designs for all genders, is reflected in the Paris space.“
