The Nike Shox R4 “Design By Korea” Comes With Suede Uppers

Read between the lines and its clear that Nike’s putting a little more umph behind Shox. The Beaverton brand is bringing back several Shox R4 and TL colorways from the 2000s and 2010s, taking aim at the Y2K sneaker trend and re-introducing the Shox family to a wave of younger consumers known to go against the grain. This latest delivery, however, is entirely new, designed in part by the Korean community under Nike’s ongoing “Design By” program.

The shoe’s distinctive cushioning chambers are the first thing that catches the eye on any colorway, but especially so on this pair. Taken in simple monochrome colors up top, the sole introduces the design’s only notable splash of color. The pillars appear in gold, while blue and red accents touch up the rest of the area, evoking South Korean flag colors.

Despite the upper featuring basic shades, there’s plenty of intrigue to point out. For one, this is among the few if not the first Shox R4 to feature suede, potentially paving way for more non-traditional material compositions moving forward. Suede panels wrap the toe and top portion of the shoe, complete with chalked edges for a bit of a vintage vibe. The sidewalls go about business as usual in “Sail” leather, but the Swoosh logo has been blown up in size for a bigger imposition.

Currently, the Nike Shox R4 “Design By Korea” is poised to release October 5th for $170. Reference our “Where To Buy” section for purchase links upon that date.

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