First Nations artist Otis Hope Carey collaborates with Christian Louboutin

In partnership with Christian Louboutin

On the first evening of May, Sydney pulsed with red-soled elegance as Christian Louboutin unveiled its Fall-Winter 2025 collection in an exclusive showcase with celebrated Gumbaynggirr Bundjalung artist Otis Hope Carey. Held against a backdrop of cocktails, conversation and original artworks, the event welcomed a tight guest list including Sophie Carey, Elle Ferguson, Miah Madden, Nathan McGuire and Connie Mitchell – all gathered to celebrate a dynamic fusion of fashion, art, and identity.

At the heart of the collaboration is Carey’s enduring connection to Country and his lifelong relationship with the ocean. Known for his swirling, deconstructed traditional motifs, Carey created seven original works for Christian Louboutin, displayed throughout the space alongside a preview of the new-season collection. Each canvas is rooted in the body of work Garguu, meaning “ocean” in Gumbaynggirr, a shared totem for Carey’s community. “The garden works start with three rings – usually representing a big body of water,” he shared. “The layers over the top are the underlying, overlapping tidal currents and the spiritual connection we have to ocean.”

His vibrant brushstroke designs – inspired by nature, ancestry and movement – are transposed onto canvas and screen-printed into exclusive editions of the Miss Z line, Christian Louboutin’s revolutionary take on comfort-forward high heels. From boots to pumps, the Miss Z Otis Carey collection balances expressive pattern with technical craft, each pair coated in a water-repellent finish to preserve the painterly effect. “It was all really intuitive,” Carey explained. “Usually I don’t paint with these colours. This was all really new to me, which made it fun. I wanted to create something bold, loud, but also soft – something that gave the collaboration its own identity.”

Carey’s artistry also extended beyond footwear into a striking range of accessories. His designs appear across standout handbags including Toile Enduite Gaagal, a reinterpretation of the Eloise style with layered, water-resistant colourways that mimic the effect of hand-painted canvas. The Otis Waves bag takes its name from the artist’s own practice, with wave-like, laser-cut leather pieces woven into sculptural, tactile forms inspired by his connection to the sea. Meanwhile, the core Baggy range of slouchy lambskin leather styles rounds out the season with laid-back sophistication, crafted for versatility and ease.

The broader Fall-Winter 2025 collection showcases Christian Louboutin’s signature blend of sensuality and innovation. Highlights include the rhinestone-laced Miss Z Degrastrass and the deep-cut Miss Z Slimimule, the sleek over-the-knee Loo Boot, and the transparent Bubble line – which nods to ’60s modernism with its blend of PVC and leather, capped with a plexi heel. The College lug sole series returns with an unmissable unisex edge, and the accessories are just as forward-thinking: from the supple Nappa leather Baggy range to the wave-textured Otis Waves bag, Carey’s oceanic forms ripple across materials and silhouettes.

The collaboration came together with ease – “really naturally, really organically,” Carey noted. And in a rare act of trust from a luxury house, “it was pretty much an open brief. I had full creative freedom.” More than just aesthetic synergy, the project also held cultural weight. “It’s so important for big companies to work with Indigenous people,” he said. “It’s a great way for people to learn about our culture – how we connect to the elements around us.”

More than a preview, this was a communion – of culture and couture, land and legacy. “My biggest mentor is Mother Earth,” Carey said. “Every painting tells a story about me and my family and my community. You just have to tap into your intuition and listen to what it’s telling you.” In Carey’s hands, red became more than just a signature – it became story. And for one evening, Sydney became the canvas.