Auralee x New Balance Warped Runner
Auralee debuted yet another new sneaker with New Balance during its latest presentation. This time, Ryota Iwai’s brand showed off tonal navy blue and cream pairs of a new sneaker being referred to as the Warped Runner. Each featured a mesh upper with suede overlays and giant “N” branding on the side panels. The most striking feature is its thick, wavy sole. The pair falls in line with other recent retro-inspired lifestyle silhouettes from New Balance like the 327 and 9060.
Louis Vuitton Footprint
There was a ton of new footwear debuted during Pharrell’s inaugural Louis Vuitton show. We saw the LV Trainer covered in primary colors and Damier print. There were pairs inspired by bowling shoes. But the standout of the bunch had to be these furry boots. The bear-like design came complete with LV monogram incorporated into its fur uppers and a paw-like stamp on the sole to leave a distinct mark when walking.
The Louis Vuitton runway wasn’t the only place that Pharrell debuted new sneakers in Paris. Cream, black, and brown colorways of his Humanrace x Adidas Sambas also released through a cafe pop-up at the Broken Arm. Needless to say, Pharrell stayed busy.
Airei x Asics GT-2160
A designer’s first sneaker collaboration is also a big milestone. It’s one that Airei founder Drew Curry got to celebrate in Paris. A 50-pair run of his Asics GT-2160s quickly sold out. Each was covered in plaster meant to crack and crumble away over time to give each owner a completely one-of-one experience. Along with the limited release, an all-black Asics sneaker was also worn by select models in Airei’s “Windhorse” presentation that featured crude fabric paneling reminiscent of Airei’s garments. We’re excited to see Curry and Asics introduce more unique creations in the future.
Rick Owens Medical Boot
Ever see somebody in a walking cast and think, “Wow, I could really get a fit off with one of those”? Personally, we never have. But Rick Owens might have a lot more people considering it with the debut of his latest footwear. The knee-high Medical Boot is constructed of black leather and features multiple thick straps with silver metal buckles. Square-toed and open-toed variations were both on display. We’re used to seeing unorthodox designs from Rick Owens by now. Nonetheless, this is one of the wildest in some time.
Wales Bonner x Adidas Neftanga
As you may have anticipated given the massive success of the partnership thus far, Wales Bonner debuted another Adidas collab on the runway. Along with Jamaican-inspired green and yellow and blue/red takes on the German sportswear brand’s iconic tracksuits, Grace Wales Bonner also referenced Haile Gebreselassie’s winning run at the Berlin Marathon in 2008 with a replica of his Adidas Neftenga signed with the world-record breaking time. New takes on the Samba incorporating snakeskin and metallic silver leather were also on display. Don’t be surprised when these sell out with ease when they eventually hit stores next year. Wales Bonner x Adidas is a partnership that seems to just work.
Crocs x MSCHF
We can’t believe the legs that the MSCHF’s big red boots have had in 2023. Just when we thought we’d seen the last of the cartoonish rubber boots, the design collective reveals its latest trick, big yellow boots. And this isn’t just a simple color change, this pair is actually a collaboration with Crocs. The pair features holes in the toe similar to the brand’s signature rubber Clogs and a strap wrapping around the ankle area for when you need to shift into sport mode. Never a group to take themselves too seriously, MSCHF made sure to have some fun with the grand reveal of its latest project. Musician Tommy Cash dressed up like a mime and wore them while sitting front row at the Rick Owens show. Talk about the duality of man.
1989 Skate Low ‘Red October’
One of the final shows that took place at Paris Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2024 was from Chaz Jordan’s 1989 Studio. He took the opportunity to debut a new colorway of his Skate Low, a sneaker that fuses elements of the Louis Vuitton Don and Nike SB Dunk Low. For this particular pair, he leaned even further into the LV Don inspiration by dressing them in all-red uppers. The pair was part of a handful of looks in the show, one of the most memorable being a cropped white T-shirt paired with baggy denim embellished with jewels.
“It was such an important moment for us all and everybody's looking to get that shoe, but nobody wants to put up that money,” Jordan told Complex ahead of the show. “It just felt right to do it and to give something back to all of us that were a part of that and are still looking to relive that by purchasing those shoes."
Comme des Garçons Homme Plus x Nike ACG Mountain Fly 2 and New Balance 610
Comme des Garçons debuted sneakers with multiple brands in its latest runway presentation. Black and white pairs of the Nike ACG Mountain Fly 2, a low-top trail sneaker, hit the catwalk. There were also new silhouettes created in collaboration with New Balance Tokyo Design Studio borrowing elements from the New Balance 610 that ditched laces in favor of a slip-on approach. As usual, the branding was kept to the absolute minimum on both. More sneakers to add to the everyday rotation from CdG.
On Running x Post Archive Faction
If you’re like us, you see On Running sneakers everywhere. More often than not, they are probably on the feet of some middle-aged person you see walking down the street or someone on the way to the gym. The brand has found success in the marketplace thus far, but not exactly with the most stylish crowds. Its new collab with Post Archive Faction aims to break that stigma. The black and grey takes on On’s Cloudmonster runner sit atop the Swiss brand’s signature Cloud Tec soles. Post Archive Faction’s tweaks include minimal branding compared to the original Cloudmonsters, rounded overlays, and an off-center lacing setup. While this may not be the pair that ultimately makes us buy some On sneakers, it’s certainly a step in the right direction.
Salehe Bembury and Action Bronson x New Balance 1906R
Two of New Balance’s most noteworthy collaborators made sure to debut some new sneakers while moving around in Paris. Salehe Bembury and Action Bronson each pulled out never-before-seen colorways of the 1906R. Bembury’s featured a gradient red, orange, and yellow upper with silver overlays that sort of reminds us of Ultraman. Bronson also stepped out in a colorful pair of his own that seems comparable to his first 990v6 with neon green uppers, orange details, and brown suede overlays. No word on if these will be receiving a retail release in the future or are just some exclusive pairs for the two men, but it’s still cool to see New Balance continuing to build with its current roster.
Colour Plus x Saucony Grid Shadow 2
Saucony continued to ride its wave of recent momentum with a limited release of the first of three Colour Plus x Saucony Grid Shadow 2s at Shinzo Paris. This particular pair was dressed in tan suede, mesh, and pebbled leather inspired by the terrain of sandy beaches. When speaking to Complex about his collaborative relationship with Saucony, Colour Plus founder Jordan Page said, “Creative people are freethinking, free flowing, free spirited. You want to be able to do as much creatively as you can. And Saucony has really allowed me to do that.”
Thisisneverthat x New Balance 550
Along with its surprise debuts via Action Bronson and Bembury, New Balance also hosted a pop-up at Paperboy Paris with South Korean streetwear label thisisneverthat to show off its latest collab–a trio of 550s features canvas uppers and black accents. Pink, green, and brown pairs were all on display. Just when we thought the 550 may be on its way out, thisisneverthat proves that there are still some new ways to approach the ‘80s basketball sneaker to make it feel fresh.