Asics is gearing up for collabos with Berlin’s Solebox and Rotterdam’s Woei, a two-pack with Perth’s Highs & Lows and a ‘Five Rings’ Olympic set to open the doors at Bait in Orange County, CA, but that doesn’t mean they’re stretched beyond the point of coming up with sick new in-house designs. Quite the contrary, in fact, and that relatively quiet work is every bit as solid as the guest spots thanks to standout designs like this new Asics Gel Lyte III. The earliest images of this ‘Orange Blaze’ pair and especially its Gel Saga counterpart from last fall suggested they were in the Infrared range, but these new photos give a truer sense of the vibrant accent shade you’ll see on the tongue, laces and outsole. Whether these’ll be out for toward the early part of their fall/winter 2012 release window or you’ll have to wait until fall hunting season remains to be seen, and you can get a close-up view after the jump in the meantime. via Sneaker Freaker
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What Reebok ZigTech lacks in hype and campouts, it more than makes up for in high-tech performance and jaw-dropping looks. Models like the one pictured above are the kind of thing you end up leaving the mall holding two pairs, having gone in just to see what’s new. The Reebok ZigActivate not only features one of the most eye-catching midsole designs on the market, but it’s been enhanced by a three-color build featuring smooth fades between color sets like red/white/blue and blue/gole/white. Add that to a heat-bonded synthetic upper and we’re dealing with the newest drops from RBK’s top-of-the-line runner, and you can see more photos of these new pairs after the jump below. via SM
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The recent ‘What the Max’ drop showed off the Nike Air Max+ 95 360‘s incredible capacity for intricate colorblocking, its tiered look the next logical step from the mass of gradient designs that continue to typify the original AM95 silhouette. Take that step in a slighty different direction, and you end up with a design like this new Air Max 95 BB, one that sees new potential in the upper’s distinct ‘ribs’ thanks again to the power of Hyperfuse construction. So instead of a gradient marking the entire length of ‘muscle fibers’, these grey and Volt 95 360s apply a fade to each of the neon columns laid atop a base that offers a grey-dient in its own right. This is next gen ‘Neon’ and it’s available now at select Nike Sportswear shops like Mr. R. Photos: ITSB
Nike Air Max+ 95 360
Dark Grey/Volt-Wolf Grey-Anthracite
511307-060
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The Supra Owen is the Crown brand’s first running sneaker, a departure for this brand that’d heretofore focused its energies on the skateboarding scene. It’s a risk that’s paying dividends as sneakerheads and casual buyers alike come to recognize the potential for lightweight and breezy summer comfort coming from this ‘unlikely’ source at a wholly reasonable price point. The Owen is back for summer with two new colorways, one a ‘Sport Blue’-inspired answer to March’s OG Air Max 1-inspired release, the other closer to the kinds of styles we saw in 2010′s Air Attack Pack thanks to the subtle use of purple accents on an otherwise black base. Check out both in greater detail below, then grab yours straight from Supra.
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Although they’re almost just as well-known for the frustratingly small numbers with which these products hit retail, Berlin’s Solebox is synonymous with high-profile sneaker collaborations. Over the course of a decade, this German boutique that’s recently become known for its light-up retro kicks has authored roughly one new colorway per quarter, for a massive total that approaches forty when you consider variations like the (un-)branded GITG Asics Gel Lyte III. Solebox has a way with the GLIII and its classic running peers, the New Balance 1500 a clear favorite in much the same way that Solebox has struck up a long-term relationship with Saucony. Check out a few of the highlights of a decade of brillianceafter the jump, let us know how they compare to your favorite guest designer’s legacy and check out the full gallery at Solebox.
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New Balance is apparently looking to make things as hard as possible for those attempting to budget an allotment for their irreproachable classic runners. The New Balance 991 in particular has been the focus of a ton of loving energy, as right off of a preview of five equally impressive pairs slated for Q3, we see this new pair pop up as an exclusive for the B&M showroom of a fashion designer known for his own success with premium vintage kicks. The ‘Italian’ 991 was crafted in England and features premium soft blue suede contrasted by tonal grey mesh and reflective elements, the kind of grand slam colorway that’ll be gone soon from Steven Alan.
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New Balance is known for appending acronyms to the end of their numbered releases to provide unique identifiers, and while most of those (especially the in-house designs) reflect the colors in use, a select few have extra letters to denote details about its special makeup. That holds true for the Flimby Factory 30th Anniversary Pack, a trio of New Balance 576s crafted by longtime employees of NB’s Flimby, UK factory. Andy Mandle chose charcoal and red with a tartan sockliner, Billy Edgar goes earthy and opts for a two-tone zig-zag on the inside and Roy Bell rounds out the group with a chilly grey and blue suede design lined with corduroy. All of them have ’30 Years of Manufacture in the U.K. 1982-2012′ tags to drive home the theme, and you’ll find them available this August at shops like Overkill, who’re pre-selling theirs today.
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Nike and New Balance, and to some degree adidas, have the suede and mesh classic running game on lock, but don’t forget that the reason we celebrate those and not others is because of their staying power. Brands including Spalding, Autry, Osaga and Wilson are just a few that’ve either gone the way of the buffalo or reconsidered their strategies because the first set of companies dominated, but then there are a few historical footnotes that reside in a unique middle ground. Diadora is one example, a still-thriving Italian company whose emphasis remains on soccer, yet a look at this classic suede and nylon design instantly reveals a certain part of how they spent the 1980s. ’84′s Diadora Trident returns this summer in at least seven colorways, though if you were to add them all together, their collective simplicity means you’d only end up with six total colors in use. And while these might not replace Air Max 1s or NB574s in your rotation, they’re most definitely off the beaten path and you can see more images below. via FNG
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