Ross Dwyer Last year it would have been foolish to think that anyone could challenge Virgil Abloh and Off-White‘s spot as Nike’s top collaborative partner. Although 2018 has continued to be extremely fruitful for Nike and Abloh with releases like the “UNC” Air Jordan 1s and Serena Williams Air Max 97s, this year there’s some friendly competition. Jun Takahashi and UNDERCOVER are also laying a strong claim to the top co-creative spot, as their special React Element 87s have sent the sneaker-loving public into an absolute frenzy and garnered early “sneaker of the year” talk. That’s not all the legendary Japanese brand has got in the works: they also debuted an insanely unique take on the original Nike Tailwind in June, and are preparing several colorways of the Zoom Fly SP as part of their collaborative Gyakusou line with the Swoosh, the latest of which to surface is this bright royal blue colorway.
Since its inception in 2010, the Gyakusou — a Japanese term that means “reverse running” — line has blended technical elements with fashion-forwards design in a way that’s changed the landscape of performance running gear, and Takahashi’s take on the Zoom Fly SP continues that fusion of fashion and functionality. The shoe is dressed almost completely in a striking blue, with everything from the upper’s racing stripes to the extra thick midsole sporting the bold color. Accents arrive via an audacious skull and crossbones hit on the lateral heel, Gyakusou and Undercover text logos on the midsole/tongue, and a small white swoosh on the lateral midfoot. The shoe’s blend of style and performance is then completed by a black plastic TPU midsole shank that offers — in true Gyakusou fashion — extra durability and style. An official release date for these striking runners has not been announced yet, but expect them to drop as part of the fall Gyakusou collection and stay tuned to our Sneaker Release Dates page for further updates as they’re available.
Images: dirtymoney823
