Chitose Abe and Jean-Paul Gaultier Craft Special sacai x Nike Vaporwaffle
Coinciding with Abe’s work on the famed French designer’s latest couture collection.
Back in 2020, sacai founder Chitose Abe was named the first guest designer to take over Jean Paul Gaultier‘s famed couture line, a debut that has been delayed almost a full year by the coronavirus. Now, with a potential debut for Abe’s JPG couture on the horizon, we’ve been given a sneak peek of a special take on sacai and Nike‘s Vaporwaffle that’s been crafted especially for the occasion.
Though it may use a simple black and white color scheme and familiar double-stacked midsoles plus doubled up Swooshes — all in line with one of the Vaporwaffle’s release colors — this couture-focused sneaker is otherwise a wild collage of materials, stitching and embellishment. Uppers boast nylon, suede and leather, all split by Air Footscape Woven-like black or white stitching that runs across the midfoot and toebox.
The collar is elevated as well, making for a high-top cut reminiscent of classic Swoosh models like the Terminator or the Court Force. Though the doubled-up tongues return, they add JPG branding on their tags for a little extra touch of flair. Inside the shoe, the insole has been altered as well, showing off a white and blue striped detail for a nod to a signature Gaultier motif.
As couture garments are not usually made available for purchase, it’s quite possible that this high-top-meets-moc-meets Vaporwaffle design will never see a retail release. However, you will be able to catch it in action during Abe’s first Gaultier runway — which is tentatively set to occur sometime in 2021.
Elsewhere in the world of footwear, Rick Owens and Converse have revealed a square-toed TURBODRK Chuck 70.
