Category: Shoes

Name: Jil Sander x PUMA King AvantiColorway: Navy Blue/Warm WhiteMSRP: $500 USDRelease Date: October 14Where to Buy: Jil SanderWhen you design something truly timeless, 30 years could pass, and the aforementioned shoe, garment, graphic, or whatever it may be still strikes a chord. The Jil Sander x PUMA collaborative King Avanti sneaker is the epitome of perennial design.Almost 30 years ago now, Jil Sander and PUMA first partnered up on its needle-pushing high fashion-meets-football footwear offering. Aptly dubbed the Jil Sander x PUMA King Avanti, the first-of-its-kind sneaker was played in on the pitch, donned by soccer royalty Pelé and Diego Maradona at the time of its initial 1998 release.Now, with the fashion house under the creative directorship of Simone Bellotti, the King Avanti is making its triumphant return to reign supreme as today’s top leather-laden football lace-up.Taking on a sleek unisex fit, the sneaker comes dipped in a clean new colorway of “Navy Blue” and “Warm White,” and keeps its signature distinctive flap and lining. The revived King Avanti comes crafted from new premium leather, with a Jil Sander logo in golden foil on the upper and on the inside, and a PUMA logo on the top of the tongue flap.Take a closer look at the  Jil Sander x PUMA King Avanti sneaker in the gallery above, and cop a pair – retailing for $500 USD – now. Expect a second installment of the Jil Sander x PUMA partnership to come sometime next March…

SummaryDesigner Salehe Bembury declined a lucrative “multi-pronged partnership” with Nike to launch his independent brand, SPUNGEThe Nike deal would have included collaborations with both LeBron James and ConverseBembury stated he passed on the offer to gain “full agency” over his creative vision and build his own communityFootwear designer Salehe Bembury has made a decisive move, announcing the launch of his own independent sneaker company, SPUNGE, just a few years after turning down a high-profile, multi-pronged partnership with Nike. The decision is a powerful testament to Bembury’s conviction that achieving his full creative vision requires complete agency over his process.Speaking to The Wall Street Journal, Bembury revealed that a few years ago, he was invited to Nike’s headquarters in Oregon, where the company proposed a major collaboration. The offer was not limited to a single shoe; it included projects with both LeBron James and Nike-owned Converse. However, Bembury ultimately passed on the “attractive keys” because the terms didn’t allow him to fully execute his unique vision.Bembury, known for his work with Versace, Crocs and New Balance, decided the only way forward was to build his own platform. “My own brand will be 100% my vision,” Bembury stated. “I will get to build the community that I want to build, and have the conversations that I want to have and tell the stories that I want to tell.”SPUNGE is now set to directly compete with the very companies Bembury once collaborated with. Its debut model, the Osmosis, is a performance-lifestyle runner that channels his signature organic aesthetic. The brand, which launched via a raffle on October 13, signals a new era for designers who want to own their creative output without corporate compromise.

Name: New Balance 204L “Black/Timberwolf”Colorway: Black/TimberwolfSKU: U204LMRAMSRP: $120 USDRelease Date: October 28Where to Buy: New BalanceThe New Balance 204L, the brand’s newest lifestyle silhouette, is set to drop in the sleek and versatile “Black/Timberwolf” colorway. This release continues the model’s momentum by expertly fusing the slim, athletic structure of 1970s running shoes with the tech-inspired texture of the Y2K era, creating a sneaker that feels both familiar and entirely new.The 204L’s low-profile silhouette is a clear stylistic nod to archival runners, particularly the vintage NB 321. Its upper is meticulously crafted from premium suede, featuring layered textures and embossed overlays in a deep black hue. This dark, sophisticated base is complemented by “Timberwolf,” a lighter grey-brown shade, on the accents and the distinctive outsole. This subtle contrast ensures a versatile aesthetic that works seamlessly for both streetwear and smart-casual looks.Designed for lightweight comfort, the shoe is built with an EVA outsole for cushioned support in everyday scenarios. The model showcases intentional design details, such as screen-printed graphics along the saddle and a double-stacked suede “N” logo. The New Balance 204L “Black/Timberwolf” is scheduled for release on October 28.