The New Balance KAWHI Brings Christmas Chill
may not crack a smile on-court, but this upcoming colourway of his signature basketball shoe proves he’s still a ‘fun guy’. Arriving just in time for Christmas, these festive kicks draw on some icy inspiration, and reportedly reinterpret The Klaw’s favourite mythological monster: the Snow Wasset.
The Snow Wasset, or Mustelinopsis subitivorax by its scientific name, is a furry creature that vaguely resembles a weasel and can shed its four legs when it needs to burrow into the powder. Strange. However, it’s supposedly a fearsome creature with claws – just like Kawhi with a basketball in his hands.
This snowy theme is translated into icy mesh and synthetic overlays of the New Balance KAWHI, whereby multiple tones of blue really drive home the cold conditions. An intriguing embroidered pattern adorns the mid panel, creeping beneath the eyestays and onto the tongue, changing colour midway. Snow white falls on the ankle collar and toe cap to bookmark the design, while light blue adds a frosty finish to the ice soles. Finally, Kawhi’s The Claw nickname is reinterpreted on the tongue logo with an actual claw clutching a frozen basketball, and the insole depicts a makeshift Christmas tree using said balls, complemented with the text ‘Santa Klaws’.
The New Balance KAWHI ‘Christmas’ releases on December 11 from select NB retailers.