Andrew Rizzo Jakob Werner’s star continues to rise in the sneaker custom space. In an environment crowded with bootleg-adjacent designs and horribly reworked Travis Scott shoes, JW Studios stands out with a clear focus on craftsmanship and thoughtful references, forgoing a fixed blueprint for a wide-ranging portfolio that spans multiple brands and techniques.
Werner’s breakout moment came last year with a limited Mizuno MXR “Kakishibu” giveaway, a project that’s become borderline mythical given its scarcity and the fact that pairs have yet to surface on the resale market (and yes, we’ve looked). Now we have an encore to report. This latest Mizuno MXR draws from the black persimmon, or “Kuro Gaki,” with a rich, purple Kakishibu dye applied throughout. Just 30 pairs have been produced, each individually numbered “1/30” on the tongue.
The JW Studios x Mizuno MXR “Kuro Gaki” will be released via giveaway HERE. Entries close at 1:00 PM ET on April 17th, with winners selected at random on April 18th. All pairs will ship within four weeks.
