John Kim 
The genre of sneaker collaborations has expanded considerably over the last few years, but only a select few are capable of really putting a riveting plotline behind a shoe. CNCPTS in New England, Extra Butter in Long Island, NY, and the legendary Sneaker Freaker are just some of the exclusive group of creative minds who go beyond the banality of “let’s pick out some nice colors” and delve into story-telling mode – and Sneaker Freaker’s latest footwear collaboration doesn’t disappoint. They start things off by stating that there is no true ‘theme’ for this shoe, but somehow they manage to convey a message – even without intent.
This first look at the Sneaker Freaker x New Balance 998 ‘Tassie Devil’ proves that notion once again, as the colorway is a half-tribute to Solebox’ amazing New Balance ‘1500’ Devil collab, but at the heart is inspired driven by a cause close to the hearts of Australian natives; the Tasmanian Devil is synonymous to the region Down Under, but en epidemic has afflicted the native marsupials to the point of near extinction. A healthy chunk of the profits from the Sneaker Freaker ‘Tassie Devil’ will go toward a charity to support – and save – these wild animals. A detailed gallery is just ahead, so take a look and we’ll keep you updated on release information.
