Matt Varga Update: There is a third silhouette included in the Under Armour x Balenciaga collection, the Ripstop sneaker, done up in all-black and retailing for $1190. The shoe is also available for pre-order now; use this link to land directly on the product page. Scroll past the images embedded below for our original coverage surrounding this collab.
Expect the unexpected when it comes to Balenciaga. After a highly controversial ad campaign last summer that halted any partnership it had in the pipeline, Balenciaga is officially unveiling another out-of-left-field link-up with a wide range of collaborative offerings with Under Armour. After multiple teases at Fashion Weeks around the globe, the fruits of the two partner’s labors are finally here.
Obviously, footwear is the focus for us, and any discussion of it should start with the 3XL Knit. Under Armour’s chief contribution is bringing the flat, knit upper design from their mainline running silhouettes to the eccentric high-fashion kicks. It supersedes the original arrangement for the 3XL, pushing leather overlays directly into the mesh. The Baltimore brand also brings a bit of “addition by subtraction,” depending on your tastes, eschewing the pre-dirtied detailing that defines mainline 3XL releases for a more down-the-line running aesthetic.
Many of the original “claims to fame” for the 3XL otherwise remain, including the divisive, ultra-chunky sole design that further set the internet ablaze as the inspiration for the 6XL. Two inverse colorways are on tap, one leaning into sleek black overtones while the other embraces a more luxe atmosphere in stippled white.
The other half of the footwear offerings is around the Balenciaga Hyper, a fresh, co-developed silhouette centered around a ribbed slip-on polyester upper. Sheer height and form make the Speed Knit and the Sock Sneaker each close comparison points, but this feels like a true blend of the two imprint’s sensibilities. The overall shape harkens to UA’s wide range of performance wear, particularly some of their soccer cleats. Still, the texture and reflective hits underfoot slide it comfortably into the high fashion brand’s wheelhouse.
Alongside these four sneaker styles, Under Armour and Balenciaga cooked up a range of apparel options set to land simultaneously. All the shoes are available for pre-order now, with the 3XL Knit commanding a $1,190 retail price and the Hyper a more accessible $995. Check images of all four styles just ahead, and if you’re so inclined, get your pre-orders in for the Hyper and 3XL Knit using those respective links.
