MOOKS X DUNLOP VOLLEY

Mooks and Dunlop have teamed up to create three new interpretations of the iconic and truly vintage model, the Volley. Famed as a great sneaker for the beach and loved by skaters, yachties and water sports freaks all over, the simple construction and ultra cheap price has meant that the shoe has largely gone unchanged since day dot, and has presumably never been out of production.

Virtually unknown internationally, the Volley has a certain level of respect from all Australians on account of its longevity - every Aussie kid stepped off the tennis court and onto the street in these as far back as the 60s (and probably longer), largely because we had no choice! By today's standards, the herringbone sole is still inherently practical, but the complete absence of padding makes them a pretty tough shoe to wear out and about for a whole day. Not that it stops kids - the shoe keeps selling and selling - think of them as a Chuck Taylor with the top chopped off and you'll get the drift. We've even seen 'cool' kids wearing them - possibly as some sort of self-imposed anti-brand statement.

To be sure, they are so far off the performance sneaker radar it's not funny, however, with things being the way they are in fashion right now, this move from Mooks should prove to be quite astute, as Fred Perry and Lacoste are doing quite well with similar styles of product, not to mention the Chinese import '10 quid plimsolls' being flogged to death in London and elsewhere.

Since the Volley and its hi-tech sister the KT26 are possibly the only genuine aussie sneakers, we are disinclined to diss it too much, but as it goes, we simply can't endorse Dunlop on account of their blatantly plagiarist practices.

However, the sheer novelty of this collaboration, not to mention our lingering goodwill towards the idea of Mooks as a brand, means we are quite delighted to bring you this news. We're not sure of the availability or release dates... I'd probably try General Pants.