Two childhood friends have joined forces to create a line of high heels, designed especially for men, in an attempt to break down stereotypes and encourage more acceptance and understanding approach to gender fluidity.
New York-based designers Henry Bae and Shaobo Han also used the experience of designing their own range through their brand Syro to take aim at those who attacked them when they were growing up, naming each style in their range after a guy who bullied them when they were younger.
From the red snakeskin boots named Bruce to a pair of black platform wedges called Sean, each vertiginous shoe in the unconventional collection represents a person who made a cruel comment, or picked on them throughout their childhood.
Boots made for walking: Syro co-founder Shaobo Han, pictured wearing the brand’s Bruce boot, has created a line of heels aimed specifically at men with his childhood friend Henry Bae
Gangs of New York: The New York-based brand has named each boot style after a guy who bullied the designers during childhood
Fit for a prince: Co-founder Henry Bae, pictured wearing the George boot, revealed that the first pair of heels he tried to wear ‘were a joke’ so decided to design his own
However, shoe brand Syro, isn’t about seeking revenge on the people who taunted the co-founders when they were growing up.
Speaking to Refinery29, co-founders Henry Bae and Shaobo Han revealed that they felt compelled to create a range of shoes for men, as they were unable to find any acceptable alternatives on the market.
Bae explaied: ‘The first pair of heels I tried on were a joke. They were seven-inch heel-less glitter Mary-Janes, if that even makes sense; Lady Gaga-like psycho sh*t. I wore them for Portland Pride four years ago, and my feet were mutilated by the end.’
Something Han also experienced: ‘My first pair of Forever 21 black platforms were unbearable. I wore them for Pride when I was 21, and the heels were so painful that I switched to emergency flip-flops for the rest of the night.
‘It’s important to be smart about wearing heels. I have my go-to easy heels and then I have my stunting, cab-to-curb statement pieces.’
With gender fluidity at the forefront of their agenda, ‘femme footwear’ is their ‘mission’ and both men say they feel empowered when wearing heels.
‘The more people stare at me, the more powerful I feel,’ revealed Han.
Femme fatale: Gender fluidity at the forefront of their agenda and both designers say femme footwear is their ‘mission’
Normcore: Bae, pictured, says he wants to ‘normalize’ men wearing heels and wears his own designs to the grocery store, bank and court
Lucky: Both designers say they feel privileged to live in New York City where they get positive reactions to their footwear
‘Maybe I am delusional, but I confront danger head-on. Hoping to exert as much presence as possible; to show an obnoxious level of confidence (even if that confidence is false) that will deter possible altercation.’
But he also explained that wearing heels is an extension of his ‘queer expression’, and that for him, being ‘queer is an active choice — to reject patriarchal masculinity, to object whiteness, to challenge gender norms, and to celebrate femininity.’
That being said, the brand is also seeking to ‘normalize’ heels for any time or occasion, and Bae explained that he has adapted their designs into his everyday life.
‘My mom thinks I’m crazy, but I’ve worn heels to gay bars, straight bars, courtrooms, grocery stores, venues, banks, restaurants, dumpling shacks — you name it,’ he said.
And the brand’s campaign imagery echoes this sentiment, showing men in unremarkable everyday scenarios like riding the subway, wearing their Syro heels.
However, that doesn’t mean they haven’t faced prejudice while wearing heels on the street, and Han admits that living in New York City has afforded them greater freedom of self-expression.
‘I am lucky to live in New York City, where I get not only negative but also positive reactions,’ he said.