ERL founder and designer Eli Russell Linnetz’s California dream is in full swing this holiday with a new shoe release.
According to Linnetz, his new Shearling Boot unintentionally came to fruition when he went to design the costumes for North West’s appearance at the Hollywood Bowl for “The Lion King” in May.
“I created a pair of shearling Vamp sneakers for her costume,” Linnetz told FN in an interview. “And that kind of took the internet by storm. And it was like, ‘the only thing trending for three weeks was Trump’s trial and this shoe that North was wearing.’ After that moment, the calls started coming in. Lil Yachty was the first person to reach out to buy the boots. He was the first custom pair that we made, and then all of his friends started asking for shearling boots. So, it was a no-brainer to make them available for holiday.”
Serving as the centerpiece of the collection, the ERL Vamp Boot in shearling is now available in a high calf version constructed on the brand’s Vamp sneaker sole. The made in California boots retail for $1,850.
As for the rest of the holiday offering, Linnetz updated his signature Swirl Hoodie in a festive holiday red and included an array of puffers, brushed flannel plaid shirts and boxer shorts. The collection also includes shearling bags and coats.
“For me the clothing kind of accompanies the boots,” the designer said. “They were definitely the first element of the holiday collection, because originally, I wasn’t even going to release one. But as a strong storyteller, I had to build something around the boots to make it more meaningful and to build out the 360-degree world that I like to create.”
This isn’t Linnetz’s first shoe. In June 2023, the designer unveiled his debut Vamp sneaker as part of his spring 2024 collection at Pitti Uomo in Florence, Italy. The oversized skate shoe quickly gained fans like Billie Eilish, Kendrick Lamar and Pharrell Williams in the year since its release.
“The Vamp sneaker has really defined the brand for a whole new generation,” Linnetz, who launched the brand in 2020, said. “I feel like we’ve been known for so many things across the years, but I feel like this Vamp really spoke to a new audience. It’s so funny because the people that buy the shoes are anywhere between 14-year-old boys to women in their 80s. I feel like it’s actually something about the design and the playfulness of it that really speaks to everyone.”
And Linnetz isn’t finished with his footwear releases this year. The designer told FN that he will be releasing new colorways of the Vamp sneaker as well as a new style before the month’s end.
“I don’t think most people know, so it’ll be kind of a surprise, but we’ll be launching our second collection of footwear,” Linnetz said. “There will be three colors of the Vamp sneaker as well as a new style called the Camino. And as the name suggests, its modeled after the car [El Camino] and it’s a much slimmer silhouette than the Vamp. So, it’s a cool accompanying style.”
Bottom line, though, Linnetz and ERL are just getting started. “It’s cool to enter into this new footwear space and actually be real frontrunners in terms of delivering new silhouettes and leading the charge in creating something new that stands out in a crowded space,” Linnetz added. “We’re at a crucial moment for the brand, and people want to be a part of the world I’m creating, which I think is really cool.”
