Sneaker News Since its founding in 1997, Tetsu Nishiyama’s WTAPS has conveyed its ongoing fascination with military garb, rarely deviating from on-field tones of olive greens, dark khakis, and black on field jackets, well-tailored cargos, and other daily essentials that simply look good. The brand has somehow managed to own the look despite the surplus aesthetic being one of the most relied on, which is why little needed to be done with their forthcoming collaboration with HOKA.
HOKA’s journey isn’t much unlike the foundational principles of WTAPS. Meant for utility, but adopted by the style-conscious, HOKA has found itself as perhaps the leading brand of so-ugly-that-it’s-actually-pretty shoes. Their collaborations have become a thing of legend largely for its eclectic nature, working with fellow Japanese labels in Engineered Garments to the upcycle queen Nicole McLaughlin.
Owning the thick-platformed soles, HOKA has brought that cue to the trail, specifically the Anacapa Low GTX and the Ora Luxe Slide — two mainstays of the brand’s off-road and comfort casual catalog. Where WTAPS comes in is it lends its familiar, sought-after look with the olive and black, with the infamous cross bones detailing landing the slide via the mid-foot straps. The technical specifications make its way onto the upper quite literally, with VISUAL UPARMORED debossed into the Gore-Tex upper. Other jargon appears on the heel and the insole.
An official release date for the WTAPS x HOKA Anacapa Low GTX and Ora Luxe Slide (in Jet Black and Four Leaf Clover) has been confirmed for Friday, May 24th.
