A Closer Look at Stone Island's New Balance Tokyo Design Studio RC ELITE SI

Late last month, Carlo Rivetti‘s Stone Island unveiled its much-anticipated New Balance Tokyo Design Studio RC ELITE SI collaboration — and now HYPEBEAST has got its hand on a pair ahead of the limited-run release.

This is not the first time that the two stalwarts have come together, having dropped a pair of SI_577 sneakers way back in 2013 that echoed Stone Island’s signature design language. Likewise, the RC ELITE SI puts the focus on the outerwear brand’s technical and progressive aesthetic that often plays with material production, resulting in a running sneaker that’s just as suited for the street as the track.

Aside from the collaborative efforts made, this sneaker is still a running shoe at heart. Weighing in at just 219g thanks to an upper made from a breathable 3D knit, we find a sole unit made entirely from New Balance‘s proprietary FuelCell foam technology that delivers a propulsive feel to push you forward when taking strides, a full-length carbon fiber plate for extra mid-foot support, and a 10mm drop to boot.

Stone Island comes in with a subversive interpretation, adding a thin cream leather overlay that’s cut away from the upper to reveal the knit underneath. Additionally, Stone Island and New Balance’s logos grace the left and right foot respectively, appearing in a bold red hue that also highlights the dual-branded tongue tags, sock liner, and the FuelCell branding on the outsole.

The Stone Island x New Balance Tokyo Design Studio RC ELITE SI can be previewed on a tablet until October 10 in select Stone Island stores, and is set to drop on October 12 on the Stone Island website, before launching on the Stone Island WeChat store on October 13. Take a closer look at the collaborative pair above.

Elsewhere in the footwear world, Patta and Nike’s Air Max 1 “Monarch” is dropping tomorrow.