Martine Rose and Nike(NYSE:NKE +0.75%) are back together with another round of Shox MR4 sneakers. The London-based designer takes to Pitti Immagine as Pitti Uomo 103‘s Guest Designer, delivering her Fall/Winter 2023 runway show in a grand Florentine loggia that’s been given an Italo house makeover. And while the clothes stole the hearts of the showgoers in attendance, it was the shoes on their feet that brought the collection together in harmony.
Courtesy: Ericbrain
Taking the Martine Rose x Nike Shox MR4 that debuted during Rose's SS23 runway show and was released shortly after in July 2022, the designer replaces the "White" and "Black/Red" colorways with something more subtle. The new colorway of purple fading into blue, inspired by goalkeeper jerseys from the 1990s, is reminiscent of terrace culture and Italy's love of football, while also staying on theme with Rose-isms we've come to know and love.
The sneaker is structurally identical to those that came before it, with a pointed and squared-off toe that nods to both Rose's own footwear designs and her ongoing research into football culture. Extra-long laces and silver-toned 3M panels on the mesh vamp give the smart-casual sneaker-mule football boot cues, while silver stitching outlining the black plush synthetic Swoosh emblem on the mid-panels also veers into soccer territory.
Grooved plastic acts as a heel clip and runs around the back of the shoe, and Martine Rose's signature "R" emblem is incorporated into the plastic on the medial side. The rest of the shoe is made of smooth leather, with sculptural details in geometric formations adding a final touch of retro footballing cues to the silhouette.
A Nike Shox system can be found at the rear, as expected. Four pistons in a bright blue colour sit atop a black sole unit plate and support the black leather dual-branded insoles. "I really wanted it to feel like a collaboration between London and Italy in the broadest sense," Rose said exclusively to Hypebeast about the collaboration. Music and dance music culture, as well as sport, are two things that unite the United Kingdom and Italy. The shoe emphasises this and draws heavily on these two elements. Those little nods to sports across the water were what brought us together."
The exclusive images above show the new Martine Rose x Nike Shox MR4. There is no word on when they will be available, but expect limited quantities and a quick sell-out.
