It isn’t easy to come up with the idea, nor is it easy to carry out producing a football boot literally covered in crystals, but Pierre Navarro and Orravan Design somehow managed it! In honor of Mamadou Sakho’s French national team debut, the design company came up with an audacious pair of boots, and the man who spearheaded the operation was Pierre Navarro. SER were lucky enough to get a few questions across to Navarro in regards to the boots and the details surrounding the footwear. However, if you want to know more about the boots themselves, head over to Jordon’s post.
How long did it takes to make the boots?
Well, it depends on the client size (12US for Mamadou Sakho), but it takes around 3 working days in total. Every crystal stone is placed one by one on the trainer, especially because of the mixing colors on the front and the synthetic leather. A material quite difficult to work on, compare to a classic leather. But it works! Even if this kind of trainers is not allowed on an official game and if it changes the “touch” & control of the ball a little, the players can wear it and shot the ball with.
Having created footwear for celebrities such as Didier Drogba and Tony Parker, what was so special about Mamadou Sakho?
Mamad’ is already a famous & gifted player with his team (Paris Saint Germain) but he’s a young player and a new member of the French Team (first selection in blue on nov 17th 2010). This game was his very first selection against the Big Brazil and also his first steps into the famous french arena the Stade De France. So it was two good reasons to celebrate it’s game with a special pair of trainers. And Mamadou is a Nike Athlete.
What was so special about the France-Brazil match; an international friendly?
Well, it was just an exhibition game in the sense of there was no incidence on the international classification. So it was just a remake of the 1998 World Cup final between those two teams who has been played also in the Stade De France. At the time 3-0 for France and our first World cup. So it was a good souvenir for French people and the occasion for Brazil to clean up it’s big defeat of 1998… But again it didn’t worked hehehe (1-0 for France). But the true special thing about the game is that it was the first match of the French National team in Nike jersey. It’s a little revolution here because France was in Adidas since more than 30 years. For the brand, that game was special and also perfect in the sense that Brazil is also a Nike National Team. So, like Mamadou Sakho, it was a good reason for them to celebrate it. That’s also why we’ve chosen to make it on the newest Nike Mercurial Vapor Elite.
We’d like to thank Pierre Navarro for taking the time to answer our questions. You can find out more about Ovarran Design by checking out their website.
