Brain Dead Helps Usher In The Return Of The Oakley Flesh

Becoming ever-more popular with time, Gorpcore has gave way to a number of burgeoning trends, from the Arc’Teryx shell to the oft-worn Salomon XT-6. And while the latter shoe has dominated the IG explore page for some time, soon Oakley may upset the balance, as the brand has teamed up with Brain Dead to usher back in the cult favorite Flesh silhouette.

First released in the early 2000s, the Flesh joined a number of Oakley-created sneakers, many of which have grew dedicated followings of their own. And thanks to the recent buzz the footwear has generated, the California-based sportswear brand has relaunched the Oakley Factory Team.

“Oakley Factory Team represents the cross-section between art, design, experimentation, and functionality,” stated Brain Dead founder Kyle Ng. “We look at Oakley Factory Team as being the experimental prototype that facilitates the imagination to be realized.”

Paving the way for a likely comeback, the collaborative Brain Dead x Oakley Flesh is releasing soon in three colorways. Though black soles dress all of the above, the uppers indulge in entirely different palettes. Neon green and purple clash along one, while its closest counterpart opts for a more universal arrangement of earth tones. Then, plastic bulbs embed into their suede panels, a design detail that unmistakably belongs to the streetwear label. Bereft of this addition yet outfitted in hairy suede, a third pair rounds out the collection with a much closer likeness to the original model.

The first project from the Oakley Factory Team, the Brain Dead Flesh is set to release on April 19th. Pairs will likely be available through wearebraindead.com and Oakley.com.