Virgil Abloh’s Next OFF WHITE x Nike Shoe Blends Running With Soccer

After first debuting on the feet of Cleveland Cavaliers guard J.R. Smith last week, we now have a detailed look at a black colorway of a brand-new hybrid silhouette from Nike and Virgil Abloh: the Zoom Fly Mercurial Flyknit. The new hybrid sneaker meshes performance running and high-end soccer boots together in a way that’s never been done before by combining the aesthetic of the Zoom Fly and Nike’s long-running Mercurial soccer boot line.

Abloh is no stranger to the speedy aesthetic of the Nike Zoom Fly, having released a collaborative pair as part of his culture-shifting “The Ten” collection last year, but although this shoe offers the same midsole and “FOAM” heel detailing as the original pair, that’s where the similarities end. The upper is constructed of a pitch-black Flyknit that replaces the normal translucent performance material used on the Zoom Fly, while the Mercurial inspiration arrives via large dots on both the lateral and medial side of the shoe, indicating the perfect place on one’s foot with which to strike a soccer ball. A loud yellow dot on the heel adds an extra pop of flair, and the shoe also features the head-turning OFF-WHITE text on the lateral side of the midfoot that’s adorned all of Abloh’s previous releases. The new-look silhouette is completed with woven laces offering reflective detailing and adorned with Abloh’s “SHOELACES” motif.

On the packaging side, the co-branded box sports both Abloh’s OFF WHITE logo and a Nike Football hit, and the special packaging is completed with a small Nike drawstring bag that would usually arrive with soccer cleats, also adorned with more bold dots and “BOOTBAG” branding. These extremely unique Nike shoes are set to release on June 14th.

Images: cran