Andrew Rizzo KEEN’s stock is at an all-time high right now, fueled by sharp marketing around its core icons and more than a few well-aligned collaborations. The KEEN Jasper Zionic, a hybrid model introduced in 2024, got an early boost thanks to Cali-based Gramicci, whose two-pair collab helped fast-track the silhouette’s “cool” factor. From that same vein comes a new project by trendy New York menswear label 18 East, available now for $170.
A quick scroll through the 18 East site reveals a mix of elevated essentials and more mold-breaking silhouettes that play with tailoring and proportion, all tied together by a shared emphasis on quality and utility. That, in our eyes, makes the label a natural fit within the KEEN universe. Versatile black and “Abbey Stone/Mermaid” Jasper Zionic styles are available, both built with premium materials and striking reflective embroidery across the upper.
“My favorite thing about the KEEN Jasper Zionic is its versatility,” says 18 East founder Antonio Ciongol. “It looks as equally at home hiking Vermont’s Long Trail as it does while grabbing coffee near our New York studio on Elizabeth Street. We leaned into this for our iteration, choosing ballistic nylon and soft suede for the upper. We chose to embroider the nylon with a traditional Rajasthani all-over stitch pattern, in reflective, 3M thread. We loved that an homage to slow, Eastern craft techniques could increase visibility and functionality in both outdoor and urban environments. Updating the toe paneling with suede to give the appearance of a T-Toe construction is a nice subtle touch as well.”
The 18 East x KEEN Jasper Zionic pack is available now via keenfootwear.com, 18east.com, and select retailers, priced at $170. Shop the black colorway HERE and “Abbey Stone/Mermaid” colorway HERE.
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