Riccardo Tisci Is Dropping a Bonkers Take on Nike Shox Sneakers
Riccardo Tisci has borrowed a little something from gladiator sandals for his latest Nike collaboration.
The Riccardo Tisci x Nike Shox TL sees the aughts running shoe taken to new heights with removabe ankle cuffs. Available in red or greyscale colorways, the ankle reinforcement features the same TPU overlays and patterned nylon mesh as the shoe itself. Multi-color laces are also duplicated on the straps for lockdown, and the cuffs can snap on or off of the shoes through buttons on the heel.
The chaotic pattern forming the Shox’s base incorporates elements of snakeskin, and pebbled leather appears throughout with greater definition than is typically seen (or felt) on the material. Tisci’s last name adorns the tongue, and a silver-tone lace dubrae includes a Swoosh, star and the initials “R.T.” that’s duplicated on the cuff’s heel.
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Tisci, a pioneer in Nike’s high-fashion collaborations, came back into the fold earlier this year by dropping a handbag after a seven-year hiatus. He worked with Nike on an abundance of sneakers from 2014 through 2018, when the Italian designer was simultaneously finishing off his 12-year run heading Givenchy, the most famous of which was also the first: an Air Force 1 capsule that included a boot remix with dramatic proportions.
At the time, working with high-fashion designers wasn’t totally foreign to the Swoosh or sneaker brands at large, but it was still much more infrequent than it is today.
Just over a week ago, Tisci was accused of sexual assault in a lawsuit filed in a New York Supreme court. Patrick Cooper claims Tisci drugged him in an East Harlem bar, took him to the designer’s apartment and assaulted him. A spokesperson Tisci denied the allegations and said he ” will obtain vindication through due process.”
The Riccardo Tisci x Nike Shox TL went up for sale on Fwrd but has since been pulled, so it’s not yet clear when it’s actually meant to release. Expect it to arrive soon and with a confirmed price of $180 in women’s sizing.
