Following from the Spring/Summer 2022 B-It and most recent Unicorn sneaker drops, Balmain continues its line of futurism-inspired footwear silhouettes with the latest B-EAST collection.

Since being at the creative helm, Olivier Rousteing has spearheaded Balmain’s transformative designs, reinterpreting the house’s legacy through the lens of the future — and this drop is no different. For the B-EAST range, Hypebeast teamed up with the luxury house to create a lookbook and campaign visuals taking notes from the sneaker’s forward-thinking design.

Whilst the overall silhouette is inspired by the chunky aesthetic of ’90s dad shoes, the B-EAST offers an elevated response with its use of mixed materials and luxe-detailings. As well as referencing the Unicorn’s sleek lines and B-Bold’s metallic mid-sole opening, Rousteing revisits the couture house’s rich history through the sneaker’s unique touches, incorporating its heritage emblems and iconography.

Boasting a combination of mesh, leather and suede across the refined upper, the stand-out feature is eye-catching outsole. Crafted from merging five separate molds, the animal claws that wrap around the bottom of the sneaker not only references the B-EAST’s name, but is also a nod to the iconic winged lions seen on the historic house’s coat of arms.

While keeping the signature monogram embroidered on the back tab as well as Balmain’s logo embossed on the tongue and sole, the latest B-EAST introduces a new cryptic house alphabet, comprised of alphanumeric characters, adorning the front of the sneaker. Arriving in five bold colorways, the latest collection is a versatile piece of footwear that is designed to be paired with a range of fits.

Balmain’s new B-EAST sneaker collection in mens and womens styles, is available to purchase from the brand’s website now and retails from €695 – €825 EUR (approximately $738 – $875 USD).