Marc Jacobs isn’t known for running sneakers. Aligning with his bold personality, the NYC-based designer’s footwear has always been more dramatic than particularly functional: think knee-high platform heels and glossily leather loafers. But today he’s unveiled the 72 Spring Sneaker, a Y2k-inspired tech runner unlike anything the designer has introduced before.The model arrives at the tail-end of a wave of flat-soled vintage sneaker silhouettes coming from designer labels including Miu Miu’s Gymnasium, Loewe’s Flow, and Dries Van Noten’s Suede model. Before the 72 Spring Sneaker, Jacobs’ existing sneaker silhouettes had grown dated, with shoes like the Lazy Runner and Jogger characterized by a flamboyant chunky silhouette.The latest sneaker is noticeably slimmer, but it includes a busier upper composed of mesh and various technical-looking overlays. Eye-catching colorways like a fuchsia/green variant and a yellow/brown variant stand out, while all-black and all-white options offer a more discreet version. Elsewhere, a distressed denim version marks the biggest contrast in the assortment, featuring frayed threads and an indigo twill textile upper, and an all-brown suede provides a dose of elegance.There’s a reason why the design is so distinct from the designer’s other footwear models. Marc Jacobs tapped design and engineering studio Areté to master the model. With footwear clients like Raf Simons, Stone Island, ERL, and A-Cold-Wall, it’s no wonder that the 72 Spring feels much more sophisticated than, say, the Marc Jacobs Jogger.The model surely has legs, with a sensibility comparable to Miu Miu and New Balance’s popular 530 collaboration and other trending models. The unusually diverse color assortment plants the seed for future developments, perhaps turning up embellishments, experimenting with new materials, or opening the design to collaborations.Marc Jacobs’ surprise sneaker drop comes just a week after multiple reports hinted at a possible sale of the brand from LVMH to another brand management firm. As of the time of writing, the rumors have yet to be confirmed by Marc Jacobs and LVMH.The Marc Jacobs 72 Spring Sneaker is offered at $225 USD at the official Marc Jacobs webstore and select retail locations.
