New York-based luxury brand Saaf Garments is releasing its first shoe, aptly named The Loafer. The men’s style is a modern, elegant take on the classic leather penny loafer, with a South Asian-inspired silhouette.
The Loafer by Saaf Garments features a rounded semi-pointed-toe and an eye-catching triangle shape instead of the traditionally rounded-off upper of a penny loafer. The shoe comes in three styles: a pebbled Black Grain Leather ($695), a smooth Black Polido Leather ($595), and a supple Ivory Suede ($595). The shoes are very limited-edition, as only 100 of each will be made. They will be available to purchase on the brand’s website starting April 11.
Like Saaf’s clothes, the shoes fuse traditional, artisanal craftsmanship with modern touches. The Loafer is handmade in Civitanova Marche, Italy — a city known for shoemaking — with high-quality leather and paired with a Vibram sole for enhanced durability and comfort.
“We’ve taken a very intentional step into footwear. When we started the design process, it was about creating a silhouette that was undeniably representative of our brand’s ethos and unmistakably SAAF GARMENTS,” Osama Syed, the brand’s creative director and founder, said in a press release.
“We went to the global capital of artisanal shoemaking because that is what this demanded. Our garments are made by generational tailors in Delhi, and now our footwear is made by generational artisans in Italy.”
With Saaf, which he launched in October 2023, Syed aims to celebrate his South Asian and American cultural heritage through designs he calls “flamboyant minimalism.” The brand plans to continue its foray into footwear in the future with new collections.
