Li-Ning Presents 2nd AW19 Footwear Drop With Hike-Inspired Designs

Continuing its march into the lifestyle market, Chinese sportswear brand Li-Ning has presented the second footwear drop from its AW19 collection. Consisting of three fresh takes on the 2020 Ace and one new iteration of the Furious Rider 1.5, the shoes aim to bridge the gap between city and country with bold, outdoor-themed colorways inspired by China’s national parks.

With a high-top cut and heavily layered construction, the 2020 Ace presents an eye-catching design that’s present in three makeups: “Blue” and “Slate,” both of which draw color inspiration from waterways, and a monochromatic “Tan” that’s almost YEEZY 500-esque in its stylings. The silhouette is inspired in part by the ring of fire that encircles the Buddhist deity Acalanatha, so the designers used this blazing ethos as fuel for the shoe’s accents. These include details like fire extinguisher graphics on the tongue and a layered upper that’s a conceptual nod to the shoe being engulfed in flames. All three versions of the 2020 Ace sit on top of a boot-style multi-pod outsole.

Although the Furious Rider 1.5 is limited to a single colorway in this drop, it still makes its mark with a tan base accented by bold orange and blue hits. Both the chunky-yet-powerful design and moniker draw from the Furious Horse, a piece of Chinese culture that represents superior speed and strength. Accents like vinyl inserts and mud splatter detailing add tone, texture and further meaning.

The quartet of shoes are accompanied by a fresh batch of apparel, and each pair is available now at various retailers. Check out each pair above, and head over to lining.com to see a full list of global stockists.

Elsewhere in the world of footwear, the New Balance 801 just released in a “Trail Runner” pack, consisting of two bold colorways.