Soulland Gives the Nike SB Blazer a Serpentine Makeover

Nike SB and Danish menswear brand Soulland have teamed up for a new snakeskin-equipped take on the SB Blazer. Following up 2017’s popular SB Dunk High and SB Dunk Low collaborations, this serpentine silhouette is dubbed “FRI.day 03,” as it’s the third collaborative effort between Soulland and Nike‘s skate subdivision. And, as is par for the course between the two collaborative partners, it’s loaded full of unique inspiration and special details.

Soulland head Silas Adler aimed to encapsulate the energies of Copenhagen and Los Angeles for his last two “FRI.day” silhouettes, but here he drew inspiration from Tokyo — namely the city’s vibrant sneaker culture.

“As a kid, I remember seeing a photography of my favorite pros sitting on a curb in Tokyo. They were not wearing skate shoes or any apparel from their sponsors at the time. They were wearing Nike sneakers in colorways that I had never seen before,” said Adler. “Silver details, shiny colors and crazy materials. They were Air Jordans, Air Force 1s, Dunks and Blazers! That picture made me understand the connection between style, fashion and skateboarding! It really sparked my curiosity and opened my eyes for another world and new cultures not often portrayed in skateboard media. The picture shaped the kind of footwear I wanted and needed to be wearing when I was not skating. From there the hunt began! Skateboarding and the gravitation towards sneakers have, ever since then, defined my taste in shoes.”

From a looks standpoint, these Blazers are far from your usual skate shoes. The slimmed-down upper is dressed in a scaly, slithering brown and tan snakeskin. This base is quickly accented by a duo of Swooshes: a jewel Swoosh with a mother-of-pearl finish on the midfoot and a large chenille Swoosh that wraps around the heel. Flecked laces add more texture, and each shoe offers a cream-colored heel piece, split between “FRI” on the left foot and “day” on the right foot. The exposed foam tongue features a red badge, and a red “FRI.day” hit on the outsoles completes the look.

The Soulland x Nike SB Blazer will release on November 22, with launch events at Soulland’s store in Copenhagen and the legendary Mortar skate shop in Tokyo. It’ll also be available on Nike SNKRS in Europe, and at select retailers. A retail price has yet to be announced.

For more from the world of skate shoes, check out BILLY’s Tokyo’s latest pack of exclusive animal-printed Vans.