Khy’s First Footwear Move: A Strategic Step, Not a Side Project
Khy’s new footwear collection is a minimally edited line of Italian handmade sandals created through a collaboration between Kylie Jenner’s fashion brand and luxury label Gia Borghini, marking Khy’s first expansion beyond apparel into a focused range of high-end shoes that extend its pared-back aesthetic into a new accessories category.
This is not a random celebrity shoe drop; it is Jenner’s most calculated fashion move since launching Khy in 2023. Kylie Jenner is expanding Khy into footwear for the first time through a collaboration with Italian label Gia Borghini, introducing three styles—the Studio Thong, Muse Thong and Icon Sandal—as a compact but pointed statement of intent. The Khy x Gia Borghini footwear collection launches August 21 through Khy’s website, following Jenner’s August 14 announcement that framed the project as a deeply personal design effort rather than a licensing play. In a celebrity market crowded with logo-heavy capsules, Khy’s entrance into shoes signals that Jenner wants Khy discussed alongside emerging luxury brands, not only as fan merch.
Inside the Khy Footwear Collection: Minimalism with a Sharp Edge
The Khy footwear collection is intentionally narrow, and that is its power move. Instead of flooding the launch with dozens of SKUs, Jenner and Gia Borghini settled on three silhouettes that each express a different mood within the same minimal language: Studio Thong, Muse Thong and Icon Sandal.
The Studio Thong is the purest expression—a flat thong sandal offered in black leather and high-shine metallic chrome, with stripped-back construction that keeps attention on line and finish. The Muse Thong adds a sculptural wedge that narrows through the center, emphasizing shape over ornament and arriving in black leather, metallic chrome and chocolate pony hair. The Icon Sandal, available in white leather and metallic chrome, carries the most elaborate structure, with its straps, heel and sculptural build forming the collection’s statement option. Together, they form Khy’s first dedicated footwear range while staying compact enough to feel edited rather than opportunistic.
Italian Craftsmanship as a Credibility Play for Celebrity Luxury Brands
Khy’s decision to make its debut shoes handmade in Italy is not mere aesthetics; it is a positioning tactic aimed squarely at the luxury footwear market. Khy developed the collection with Gia Borghini, an Italian footwear and accessories label, and produced all three silhouettes in Italy using black leather, white leather, metallic chrome and chocolate pony hair.
By insisting that the shoes were created specifically for Khy and handmade in Italy, Jenner centers the story on craftsmanship instead of celebrity aura. Italian craftsmanship is described as an important part of the project, bringing a traditional fashion-making element into Khy’s latest collection. For a brand frequently labeled as a typical celebrity venture, this level of production detail works as reputational armor: it signals that Khy wants to be judged by lasts and materials, not follower counts. It is a familiar play in the new wave of celebrity luxury brands—use heritage manufacturing partners to bridge the gap between influencer culture and serious product.
From Wardrobe-First to Accessories: Why Footwear Is the Next Logical Chapter
This launch is also about timing. The footwear line follows a deliberate reset for Khy in 2026, when the brand shifted to a wardrobe-first direction with a more curated approach in April, then released the Dear Summer, Love Khy collection in June. Shoes now extend that direction into a new product category, giving customers another way to plug into the brand’s styling logic.
Jenner has worn Gia Borghini for years, which she cites as the reason “this one felt right,” framing the partnership as an extension of her own wardrobe rather than a boardroom decision. She says she reworked every detail over and over until the design felt right and effortless, underscoring that the project focused on proportion, materials and finishing rather than novelty. In a market where footwear can be a high-margin accessories category, this move lets Khy deepen its aesthetic while strengthening its business model. It positions shoes as a core pillar of the brand’s identity, not an afterthought.
What This Means for Kylie Jenner’s Brand Evolution
Khy’s footwear debut is a clear statement: Kylie Jenner intends her label to be read as a fashion brand with longevity, not a passing celebrity experiment. Khy launched in 2023 and has since been expanding its fashion offering with clothing and accessories, but footwear gives customers another way to engage with its aesthetic and gives Jenner more opportunities to shape the brand around the way she dresses.
The difference with this launch is its emphasis on personal experience and craftsmanship rather than name recognition. Celebrity fashion collaborations are common, but here the combination of a long-standing relationship with Gia Borghini, Italian handmade production and a minimalist, tightly edited lineup suggests a more serious ambition. If the Khy footwear collection connects, it will not only validate Jenner’s design instincts; it will also push the broader conversation about celebrity luxury brands toward product-focused credibility. Whether fans buy for the name or the construction, Khy has positioned its Italian handmade sandals to compete in a space far more demanding than social media—luxury footwear.
