A Ma Maniére x adidas Japan SQ Squares Off the Slim Runner in Glossy Leather
The perforated women’s low-top anchors the “Do Not Duplicate” capsule for Atlanta Fashion Week.
Name: adidas DND Japan Square Toe
Colorway: Core Black/Mesa/Gold Metallic
SKU: KZ9541
MSRP: $160 USD
Release Date: Available now (A Ma Maniére), October 9 (adidas)
Where to Buy: A Ma Maniére, adidas
The adidas Japan SQ is the centerpiece of A Ma Maniére‘s “Do Not Duplicate” capsule for Atlanta Fashion Week. It reshapes one of the brand’s slimmest Originals silhouettes with a squared-off toe. Offered in black for women, the low-top keeps the Japan’s close-to-the-ground stance and adds glossy leather, contrast stitching and hardware details that move it off the track and toward a more tailored wardrobe.
The square toe is the defining change. The Japan silhouette typically narrows into a soft, rounded point. The SQ flattens the toe box into a squared profile and perforates it, with the same perforation pattern repeated along the side panels. The upper is built from glossy leather in stacked layers joined by contrast stitching, and the interior is fully leather-lined. That lining gives it a more finished feel than the average retro runner.
The rest of the build stays close to the original. A padded collar and front lacing handle fit, and adidas lists the shoe in a regular fit. The Three Stripes sit on the side panels as overlays outlined in contrasting zigzag stitching. adidas Japan branding runs along the lateral side, with logos on the tongue and heel. A metal hangtag hanging from the eyestay identifies the pair as a collaboration piece. Underneath, a low-profile midsole sits on a rubber outsole, so the sharper toe doesn’t add bulk.
The SQ also has more history behind it than most square-toe experiments. The Japan began as an archival running shoe tied to the build-up to the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. It returned during adidas’ recent run of slim, low-slung retro models and became one of the label’s go-to low-profile options. Squaring the toe moves it toward the shape of a loafer or ballet flat. That fits a capsule built for a fashion week rather than a running track.
