Few items in a modern wardrobe travel as widely as a sneaker—from city streets to dinner tables and everything in between. As dress codes adapt to changing lifestyles, maisons have been adapting their footwear accordingly, too. For Berluti—a house long associated with formal leather shoes—that shift has gradually led to a new chapter in its design language: the Shadow.
Founded in 1895 by Alessandro Berluti, the Maison built its reputation on handcrafted leather footwear, particularly the Alessandro shoe. As wardrobes have evolved, the house explored sneakers that combine comfort with craft and detailing traditionally associated with its shoemaking.
That transition began in 2014 with the Playtime, conceived as a refined interpretation of the classic white sneaker. Two years later, the Fast Track shoe introduced a more technical sole while incorporating Berluti’s signature leather patina. In 2019, the Shadow expanded the brand’s sneaker range further, presenting a design that blended the ease of a sneaker with the elegance of traditional shoemaking. The range continued to evolve with the introduction of the Stellar in 2025, a sculptural model defined by diamond shape and graphic stitching.
Within that progression, the Shadow quickly became one of Berluti’s most recognisable sneakers.
For 2026, Berluti revisits the silhouette with subtle updates that focus on comfort and wearability while keeping the signature understated look. The sneaker now features a reworked sole designed to provide better cushioning and flexibility. Made with EVA (ethylene vinyl acetate), the midsole keeps the shoe lightweight. The expanded line now includes 15 models in nine colours, from Saint-Émilion and navy to white and black, some featuring Berluti’s signature Scritto motif.
Despite its technical updates, the Shadow remains deliberately understated in appearance. Its versatility allows it to complement both relaxed and more formal wardrobes, reflecting how contemporary dressing often blends elements of tailoring and casualwear.
Portraits of three figures whose professions span different creative worlds capture the spirit of the sneakers in a photoshoot: actor Rupert Everett, chef Mory Sacko, and bartender Charles Schumann. Each is photographed in a setting closely tied to his daily life—Everett at home, Sacko in the kitchen of his Michelin-starred Paris restaurant Mosuke, and Schumann at his Munich establishment, Schumann’s American Bar. By placing the sneaker within the working environments of these individuals, the images reflect the evolution of modern footwear— where everyday practicality and craftsmanship now move in step.