FRESH KICKS:

After joining forces for Fall/Winter 2018, BEAMS and Clarks reunite for another special seasonal shoe. This time, the pair join forces to create the Desert Rock, reviving a ’90s model that was conceived as a spin-off of Clarks’ signature Desert Boot; the silhouette is now returning with plentiful upgrades.

Key to distinguishing the original Desert Boot from the new Rock is the bevy of upgraded, seasonal upgrades that recall last year’s special Wallabee. Notably, the shoes feature Clarks’ original heavy duty rubber outsoles, a feature inspired by the ’90s Rock models that utilized Vibram soles to help combat slippery sidewalks and snowdrifts. Further boosting the shoes’ winter resistance, the plush suede uppers are fully lined with GORE-TEX, ensuring dry feet even in slushy climates. Finally, for those who find Clarks’ classic sandy makeup too pale for the harsher seasons, the shoes are also available in versatile black.

Both colorways of the collaborative Clarks boots drop on BEAMS’ site in October for just over ¥31,000 JPY (approximately $300 USD).

Timberland is the second footwear company to drop a collaboration with SpongeBob SquarePants this month, following the release of the highly anticipated SpongeBob Kyrie 5 and Kyrie Low 2. The SpongeBob x Timberland collection includes two new pairs of Timberland’s 6” Premium Waterproof Boots, both filled with clever design details from the celebrated cartoon series.

The bright blue pair pictures SpongeBob preying on jellyfish, a classic scene from many of the most iconic SpongeBob episodes. With net in hand and glasses on tight, SpongeBob peers over the contrasting white stitching looking down at three jellyfish surrounding Timberland’s debossed logo. A debossed image of SpongeBob replaces the Timberland logo on the tongue. The option of two interchangeable laces allows wearers to keep things tonal with blue or match the jellyfish with a bright pink. A giant jar of jelly keychain replaces the classic removable Timberland branding attached to the shoe.

Depicting another famous SpongeBob scene, the black pair shows Plankton happily running in front of a fresh Krabby Patty printed over Timberland’s logo on the heel. The top two lugs are a contrasting red, while the laces that run through them are a yellow sponge pattern. SpongeBob’s iconic outfit makes an appearance on the dubrae, playing with the scale of the oversized tongue graphic behind it. The tongue is printed over with a graphic of SpongeBob’s face, and a removable rubber SpongeBob keychain completes the shoe.

Both pairs of SpongeBob x Timberland boots have already sold out on Nordstrom’s online store, but Footlocker’s release calendar promises a wider release next month on Friday September 13.

Converse and Neighborhood have teamed up once again, this time on a full collection inspired by motorcyclists, a familiar source of inspiration for the Japanese brand. An array of clothing is anchored by new All Star Chuck Taylor ‘70 and Jack Purcell models, merging Shinsuke Takizawa‘s familiar design ethos with recognizable products from the American brand.

The blacked-out Chuck Taylor All-Star ’70s feature an oversized velcro closure on the forefoot that reads “Craft With Pride” and “Shift”, which references the action of switching gears with your foot while riding a bike. To reinforce the inspiration, its upper sports a mix of sturdy leather and canvas.

Similar to the All Star Chuck ’70s, the Jack Purcells offer mostly blacked-out detailing. White lettering on the midsole reads “NBHDCNSJP,” standing out against the muted color that surrounds it, complemented by a white toe box with black rubber reinforcement. A mixed suede and leather upper grants the low-top shoe a rugged touch, while a Kanji character on the rear translates to mean “resistance,” underlining the hardwearing motif.

Elsewhere, key pieces in the clothing collection include a black coaches jacket with co-branded Converse and Neighborhood iconography. T-shirts, hoodies, a sweatsuit and embroidered hat offer similar stylized details, including “CONVERSE RUBBER SHOE COMPANY” verbiage and pentagrams to match the duo’s previous joint effort. Lace-up detailing on the outerwear recalls another recent Converse collaboration with TAKAHIROMIYASHITA TheSoloist.

Expect the NEIGHBORHOOD x Converse collection to drop on Converse’s website and select stockists August 24.

Following a partnership centered around the Construct initiative, Timberland and jeffstaple reunite for another joint effort. This time, the duo have cooked up a “Beef & Broccoli” boot, just in time for fall.

The silhouette recalls Timberland’s mid-cut Field Boot (a silhouette revamped by none other than Supreme) with additional pull tabs. Sturdy nubuck informs the brown and black upper, with muted mesh guaranteeing breathability without sacrificing weather resistance. Staple branding criss-crosses the mesh panel, with a co-branded Timberland tab embedded below the padded ankle, all retaining the olive green, brown and black hues that inform a proper “Beef & Broccoli” makeup, including warm orange hues and touches of pink to reference Staple‘s signature color.

jeffstaple himself hinted that the collaborative boots will launch in autumn, so expect official images and a release date to arrive shortly.

To celebrate the brand’s recent Tribeca flagship opening, maharishi has given a sustainable spin to an upcoming pair of custom Nike Air Max 90 sneakers set to release this month. The earth-toned edition is dubbed the “maha Olive” colorway and has been crafted of 100% organic cotton and even dyed with natural ingredients to bolster the eco-friendly statement.

Pomegranate and turmeric were used to dye the style while other elements were designed from ground-up sawdust, drawing inspiration from the Tribeca store’s raw woodgrain fixtures. Other sustainable details include a Nike Grind outsole, which is made of recycled materials, and naturally-dyed laces. The tongue is stamped with a “maha” and Swoosh-inscribed patch to finish it off with branding.

The maharishi x Nike Air Max 90 “maha Olive” is priced at $150 USD and will be available via raffle starting on August 22. It releases at maharishi flagship locations in New York and London, as well as maharishistore.com, beginning August 30.