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Around five years ago, Chitose Abe completely changed the trajectory of the sneaker industry with the introduction of the LDWaffle. While the Japanese fashion icon had already worked with Nike several times up until this point, her deconstructed, hybrid aesthetic was unlike anything that we had seen before. To celebrate half a decade since its debut, for this week's Trendy Tuesdays, we'll be showing off some of our favorite sacai silhouettes of all-time.
If you think of any other pairs that should have been added to this list, make sure to let us know over on Instagram, and don't forget to follow us as well for the best content that the Asian sneaker community has to offer!
The sacai x Nike VaporWaffle "Sail Gum" has got to be one of the most hyped sneakers, not just of 2021, but of all-time. Unlike the Flyknit variants from the year before, this introduced a waterproof nylon construction that combined elements of the past with details of the future. Suede and leather overlays wrap around the front and back, and the triple stacked midsole is lined with a toothy gum rubber outsole for unrivaled grip and traction with every step.
Even though the sacai x Nike LDWaffle "Summit White" wasn't the first shoe between the Japanese style queen and the American sportswear company, it was, and still is, one of the best sneakers in history. Working on top of a breathable mesh base, Abe's signature deconstruction design came into full force here. Not only are there double the Swooshes and lacing systems, you'll also find two tongues and two midsoles too, for a look that is quite literally twice as nice.
The sacai x Nike Blazer Mid "Legend Blue" was introduced in the same year as the LDWaffle, so its drop was somewhat overshadowed. With that said, it still holds up even half a decade later. Outfitted in a full leather construction that's smooth and supple to the touch, it features the same avant garde aesthetic but with an oversized pull tab around the back and an extra chunky rubber midsole underfoot. Only four colorways were ever released, and this is the best of the bunch.
One of the latest shoes to come from the brilliant mind of Chitose Abe, in 2022, she was tasked with reworking the legendary Cortez for its 50th birthday. Nike usually holds this classic silhouette quite close to its chest, so the fact that they trusted the Asian icon to do this is a testament to how much influence she has. The result was the sacai x Nike Cortez 4.0 "OG," and it's everything that we dreamed of – and so much more.
Earlier this year, as part of the Hello sacai event in Tokyo, the sacai x Nike Air Force 1 Low "Triple White" was revealed quite unexpectedly. Featuring an all-white palette that's simple and striking at the same time, embroidered Swooshes glide across the lateral and medial sidewalls, while a premium leather shroud covers the lacing system, complete with a stainless steel zip across the center. Extremely rare, if you ever come across a pair, that will be the first (and last) time that you see them.
And last but not least, we have the sacai x Nike Blazer Low "Magma Orange." Regarded as the most underrated sacai model, it also happens to be the pair with the most colorways. Just like the mid-top pair, this boasts a full leather construction with a chunky rubber sole underfoot. If you're looking for something that's a little more exclusive, there are two patent leather renditions and four collaborations with contemporary artists KAWS too.
