When you think of restaurants the first thing that comes to mind is probably not sneakers. But apparently the footwear industry is eager to jump on the food-is-the-new-hotness bandwagon.
Nike SB is about to release a special Momofuku edition of its Dunk High Pro sneaker in collaboration with David Chang. The sneaker features the restaurant’s peach logo on the tongue and at the heel, while each inner-sole of the shoe references the addresses of Chang’s two East Village restaurants, Ssäm and Fuku. The dark denim of the shoe is a nod to the aprons worn by the restaurants’ kitchen staff.
David Chang with the Momofuku x Nike Dunk High Pro.
Meanwhile, in Los Angeles, Australia’s own Volley has teamed up with David Combes and Grant Smillie, the owners of West Hollywood hotspot EP & LP, home to Australian chef Louis Tikaram. The Volley x EP & LP sneaker aims to “celebrate the Australian way of life”, as well as work as functional attire for hospitality workers – it’s lightweight, stylish, and the rubber sole provides a firm grip. You’re going to have to go to Los Angeles to grab a pair though. The shoes are sold exclusively at the restaurant for $US180.
Perhaps the most exclusive collab yet is the Vans x Yardbird shoe, available only to the Hong Kong restaurant‘s employees and their friends and family.
As for Chang’s kicks? There’ll be an initial release at Fuku’s First Avenue location on June 22, followed by drops at select Nike retailers the following day.
