Stone Island and New Balance Tokyo Design Studio Reveal RC ELITE Collaboration
and 's have more in common than you might think. The former is an Italian outerwear brand known for advanced textiles and unique dyeing methods that's found favour with football hooligans and roadmen alike. The latter is a Japan-based New Balance offshoot known for releases like the convertible . However, the two share a deep appreciation for quality materials, attention to detail and forward-thinking design — all three of which are on display in their first collaboration: the .
Billed as the 'first chapter of [a] long-term partnership,' the sneaker provides a thoughtful nod to New Balance's evolution as a brand. Its uppers are made of modern 3D-printed mesh that conforms to the contours of a runner's foot, but the midfoot features a 'torn' overlay embellished with the top half of the brand's familiar N logo, nodding to innovations from years past.
Ripped detailing continues to the toeboxes, where red Stone Island compass logos and large winged New Balance graphics sit between a jagged mudguard and ripped tongue attachment. Of note is that these overlays offer hints of the popular . At the top of the asymmetrical tongue, another red Stone Island strike appears, namely, a text hit that states 'Stone Island Product Research.' Down below, thick but supple ACL foam midsoles house a full-foot carbon fibre plate, a modern-day running innovation that ensures maximum energy return.
The New Balance Tokyo Design Studio x Stone Island RC ELITE will be previewed via iPad at select Stone Island stores from October 7 to 10, where it can be purchased with assistance from a store sales associate. It'll then release via the Stone Island webstore on October 12 and be made available for purchase on Stone Island's WeChat channel on October 13.