Footwear break-throughs in style are not always easy to come by, but when we checked out Rubber Duck, the footwear brand created by Eik Braun Ottosen from Copenhagen, we knew we’d found something original, and at the same time, rather funny. Jim Shuben, formerly from WESC and now with Rubber Duck, explained that Eik was a young designer of footwear who had created a sensation in Europe with the launch of his latest styles: a combination of a sneaker, Ugg boot, in Bathing Ape-type patent-leather bright colors, including the uber-hip metallics of gold, silver and Star Wars storm-trooper white.

At first, according to the brand leader, people made fun of his boots maybe because they are so different and sort of funny looking. Yet they’re clearly practical—more so than Uggs, which don’t do well in wet weather—along the lines of old-fashioned rubber rain boots which have become the designer rage. Rubber Ducks can be worn for most inclimate weather situations, which is an important factor in stylish footwear particularly in Northern Europe, and the bright colors carry with it that rave, even BAPE appeal of sneakers made to match outfits (or the other way around.).

Rubber Duck premiered at Project in Las Vegas to the American market February 13-15, and is sure to be a Fall 2008 IT boot in the near future.