Kabuki, Bonsai and Calligraphy Inspire Yoshio Kubo's Reebok Collaboration
Transforming the Club C 85 and Instapump Fury sneakers.
Japanese designer Yoshio Kubo‘s output varies from technical trek gear to refined tailoring and everything in between but his recent output has focused on Japanese tradition, updating heritage shapes with contemporary design ethos. Under the banner of Yoshio Kubo GROUNDFLOOR (his parent company that oversees the designers’ imprints), the new Reebok collaboration upholds that design mentality, transforming two classic sneaker styles with Japanese flavor.
Inspired by calligraphy, kabuki theater and bonsai trees, Kubo’s twists on the Club C 85 and Instapump Fury yield a variety of clever accents. For starters, prints atop the monochrome shoes’ uppers and midsoles give the impression of ink splashes, as if a calligraphy artist was swatting the sneakers with an inked brush. Then, the Reebok logo atop the tongue and Pump button is fused with the Kubo family crest, while the rear of the shoes sports an embroidered bonsai tree and Reebok’s name in illustrative Katakana (リーボック).
Shop Kubo’s collaborative Reebok sneakers on atmos’ web store.
Most recently, the Instapump Fury received an all-over print update and Cardi B teased her own special Club C silhouette.
