We love it when established brands are revived by young trendies, who turn them into the latest must have item. Think Timberland, Red Wing, Ray Bans, and Converse. We also particularly love it if it’s a trend we think we might actually be able to wear.
Young Swedish hipsters have done just that with Hasbeens clogs. Last summer they were frequently spotted on the streets of Stockholm, and are forecast to be the 'must have' item of this summer in the rest of Europe.
If you were an aspiring young fashionista in the 1970's (come on admit it, you owned loons, hot pants and a poncho and you were only 7) you will remember clunking around in a pair of clogs. There's nothing quite like the pain of kicking ones own ankle, or falling off the side of a piece of solid wood. Nonetheless we remember them with fondness and we have already decided that our sandal of 2009 is going to be the Hasbeen clog.
Hasbeens are handmade in a small factory in Sweden and made of ecologically prepared natural grain leather, based around original 1970s designs and we love the story behind the brand.
'Her name was Anita and she was the hottest mum in all of southern Sweden in the 1970’s. While smoking Camel she screamed at her kids until her curlers fell out and just looked fabulous in her white high-heeled clogs. One summer day in 2006 we found the old stock of the shoes she wore (300 pairs of red, white and black beautiful clogs from the 70’s) in the basement of an old clog factory in the neighbouring village and brought them to Stockholm. So for all these people that shared our love for Anita’s wooden shoes and for ourselves we started Swedish Hasbeens.'
They come in various colours and heel hights and are very comfortable, but we can't promise men will understand them.
