AFEW x Saucony’s ProGrid Omni 9 “Tara Hawk” Sneaker Takes Cues From a Venomous Wasp
Glossy blue cages, multicolor mesh and pony hair bring the insect-inspired concept to life.
Name: AFEW x Saucony ProGrid Omni 9 “Tara Hawk”
Colorway: “Tara Hawk”
SKU: S71049-1
MSRP: TBC
Release Date: November 7
Where to Buy: AFEW
AFEW has once again joined forces with Saucony to deliver a more conceptual take on the ProGrid Omni 9, drawing inspiration from one of nature’s most formidable predators: the tarantula hawk wasp.
The collaborative “Tara Hawk” sneaker seamlessly blends technical running heritage with an aggressive, nature-inspired design language. Its aesthetic translates the terrifying beauty of the insect into a bold colorway, built around a dark base punctuated by shifting, iridescent surfaces. Translucent blue TPU and synthetic overlays wrap the quarter and heel, producing a glossy, color-changing effect that references the wasp’s metallic body, while gradient mesh underneath moves through flashes of red, orange, yellow, blue and purple. An orange midfoot stabilizer provides a warmer focal point against the cooler sheen, allowing the layered construction of the Y2K runner to become part of the color story.
The concept extends beyond color into texture, drawing from both the insect and the tarantulas it hunts. Black pony hair covers portions of the tongue and collar, giving the upper a deliberately coarse, tactile finish that contrasts with the smooth, translucent cage surrounding it. Black leather structures the toe, lace panel and collar, while darker grey and black tooling grounds the otherwise highly reflective upper and retains the ProGrid Omni 9’s chunky early-2000s profile.
