K-SWISS X ATMOS (ASHPHALT)

K-Swiss have partnered with Japan’s premier sneaker retailer Atmos, to create this triple header project. Launched with an event in Harajuku on the 27th of September, the shoes comprise a curious selection of models and styles, all decorated with the deft touch of the Atmos crew, led by store owner Hommyo Hidefumi.
From their trans-continental HQs in Harajuku and Harlem, Atmos are perfectly placed to interpret and direct trend traffic like nobody else. As far as product development goes, the brand has a peerless record established over the past decade or so, meaning virtually anything they put their hand to achieves a form of instant credibility. Think back to their stellar Nike colabs, not to mention North Face, New Balance and most recently Puma. K-Swiss to their credit, has not been previously known as a brand to hand out the colab deals willy nilly, making this alliance even more intriguing.
First reaction is that these two models have certainly been hit with the crazy stick! The inescapable reference is the Jordan-esque elephant print, but Atmos for their part, are calling this ‘embossed asphalt’, which is their prerogative. The gold chain across the tongue and subtle Atmos branding complete the picture for the Bristel High and the Rannell, K-Swiss’ casual runner with the shock absorber known as ‘Si-18’ in the heel. If one of the objectives of creating a collaboration is to spark interest and create unexpected outcomes, then this connection between two unlikely brands would seem to be on the money...
They will be released throughout the rest of Fall 2008 in K-Swiss locations in Japan, Australia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan and the U.S.A.