Month: February 2021

After teasing a selection of upcoming collaborative New Balance sneakers in its recent Fall/Winter 2021 presentation, Casablanca and the Boston-based sneaker brand come together for another forthcoming release, this time introducing an all-new 237 silhouette, alongside another rework of the popular 327.Dressed in the French label’s jacquard monogram, both sneakers boast textile overlays that wrap around the toe and heel area, while an oversized “N” logo — a feature that’s become synonymous with the pair’s collaborations — is housed on the medial side of the 327’s perforated upper, and both sides of the 237. Both sit atop a green nubbed sole that creeps onto the upper, although the 237’s white and pink rubber sole takes on a more classic appearance to that of the 327’s sports-inspired shaping.”The 237 is a softer, more versatile silhouette,” explains Charaf Tajer, Casablanca’s French-Moroccan designer. “For us it was about bringing the effortless elegance of Casablanca into the design of the silhouette. With all of the New Balance collaborations we always work together on creating a classic silhouette that is timeless”.Described as a “direct descendant to the 327”, the 237 takes notes from its predecessor with elegance remaining the brand’s main focus. “It has the same DNA [as the 327], but some of the lines and forms of the panels are less aggressive, more sleek,” continues Tajer. “Straight lines are replaced with rippled lines that run through the silhouette from the toe box, to the outsole”.With no less than three 327 collaborations in 2020, Tajer admitted he has a deep emotional connection with the popular silhouette. “It [the 327] was our first collaboration with New Balance, we’re so proud to see how much of a classic and timeless silhouette this has gone on to become,” he explained. “Looking ahead we are working with New Balance on some exciting projects for the future, we’re always trying to evolve. But the 327 will always be my first love”.Both styles will be releasing on February 27 via the Casablanca webstore, retailing at £140.00 (approximately $196 USD).In other sneaker news, check out the Whitaker Group’s exclusive Nike Waffle One, which is inspired by Bill Bowerman’s footwear experiments.

Among the plethora of unreleased YEEZY boot styles created by Kanye West and adidas, few — if any — command more attention than the YEEZY 1020. Though it’s been teased, leaked and speculated upon ad nauseam, there’s still never been any proper release information announced. We may still be waiting on the day that ‘Ye decides to bless his boot-wearing acolytes with the design, but in the meantime a closer look at the 1020 has arrived courtesy of GOAT. A high-top, hike-ready design that also seems to pull some inspiration from basketball shoes, the 1020 arrives in a two-tone orange and tan colorway. The former shade is spread around the shoe’s lower half and most of the strikingly-shaped upper, while the latter is relegated to the tongue and the throat’s zip closure. The 1020’s most striking detail is present on its midfoot, which cleverly works in a Three Stripes-style graphic with a trifecta of wavy lines. Circular shapes on the ankle give more structure to the collar, and the toebox is covered by a durable rubber. The upper’s base layer is cocooned in a protective shroud that can be opened and closed by way of a zipper that runs from tongue to forefoot. Finally, thick midsoles and lugged outsoles are constructed of high-quality Continental rubber to complete the look.Official release date and pricing information for the YEEZY 1020V has yet to be announced. However, the presence of a sample pair on the GOAT webstore may point to a release later this year.Looking for more footwear news? Check out the latest installment of Sole Mates, in which designer Mr. Bailey explains why he loves the Nike ISPA Road Warrior.

Nike may have debuted the now-iconic Dunk in 1985, but it enjoyed an immense resurgence in 2020 — a resurgence with momentum that’s carried into 2021. Now, Nike Sportswear is set to keep the ball rolling with a boisterous Dunk Low “Flip The Old School,” a wild style that’s a modified, modern-day tribute to the Dunk High “City Attack” pack from 1999.The right shoe offers a straightforward mixture of white and purple, with its main detail provided by ostrich leather overlays. The left shoe, however, almost completely inverses the look of its counterpart. White and purple tones swap places, with Swooshes turned upside down to drive the inspiration home even further. Besides these flipped Swooshes, the branding on the tongue and heel tab has been reversed as well. A semblance of similarity is provided by the return of the aforementioned ostrich leather on the overlays plus matching white and purple midsoles/outsoles. Just like the recent Air Force 1 “Keep ‘Em Fresh,” the “Flip the Old School” also comes covered in tissue paper, a shell that here features original illustrations of a Dunk-wearing crew plus “Flip the Old School” printed on the lateral heel. Though this finite paper may be removed before wear if the wearer choses, its graphic also appears in a much more permanent fashion on the insoles.An official release date and pricing information for the Nike Dunk Low “Flip the Old School” has yet to be revealed. However, it may arrive alongside the aforementioned Air Force 1 “Keep ‘Em Fresh” sometime this spring.For more footwear news, check out the latest installment of HYPEBEAST’s weekly Sole Mates series — in which designer Mr. Bailey discusses his appreciation for the Nike ISPA Road Warrior.