1. Elasticize your boundaries
Published in metro.pop Magazine
(Lifestyle, Art, & Fashion Magazine in the US)
In the land of metropolitan hustle, convenience is king - and if efficiency arrives disguised as a
swanky fashion statement, the entire kingdom rejoices.
Enter Royal Elastics, a creative force of contemporary footwear. By replacing traditional shoelaces
with form-fitting elastic closures, Royal Elastics has created slip-on shoes to liberate the enlightened
consumer from the ties that bind. This nifty device streamlines the harrowing process of dragging
your body out the door in the morning by eliminating the need to fidget with laces. Besides, it makes
it a hell of a lot easier to get through an airport security check.
Skeptical about giving up your tightly laced street kicks? Don’t sweat it. This innovation hugs the
foot securely and lends comfortable support, so you can rest assured that your feet won’t sacrifice
coziness for novelty.
“That technology is what gives us our edge,” confides creative director, Ludo, who is the driving
force behind Royal’s unique designs. Some might say that the use of specialty closures is confining,
but Ludo likes to think on his feet - and outside the proverbial shoebox. “It becomes an element of
creativity. We can’t do an ordinary looking shoe, but we still have to be relevant to the marketplace.
We keep coming up with new ways to construct the closures. We live in the moment instead of rein-
venting the past.”
Designer Mark Sydavong also eschews any pressure to adhere to the norm. “There’s nothing else
out there that’s quite like what we do, so we’re forced to be inventive. We want to be inspired by cur-
rent trends instead of being influenced by them.”
Royal’s designs combine comfort and simplicity. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the “King”
and “Queen” – two of the most recent additions to the Royal family. Heralding a return to clean
elegance, these his and hers designs go from sandy beaches to posh nightclubs without skipping a
step. According to Ludo, the key is to separate good form from garish flash – and to keep the con-
cept pure. “Sometimes the simplest things are the hardest to design,” he explains. “There are fewer
lines and details to work with, but you get something very clean that can be worn anywhere and with
anything.” Ludo isn’t exaggerating. He’s even been known to spark conversation at a black tie affair
with his Royals – usually the “Grata”, a sleek, understated model.
Make no mistake: classic need not indicate dull. Royal keeps a finger on the pulse of a progressive
generation. Inspiration bubbles from the city streets, with graffiti, architecture, and electronic music
gelling into hip designs. Even the website (www.royalelastics.com) is a slick flash piece teeming with
a nightlife vibe. “We’re aimed at independent thinkers who don’t always do what they’re told,” Syda-
vong asserts. “Those people don’t fit the mainstream and neither do we.”
The result is a line that’s more urbane than urban: funky, sexy shoes that kick off easily when you’re
undressing in a hurry – and isn’t that the most appealing example of efficient fashion?