Esquire Singapore brought sneaker enthusiasts and culture aficionados together for an intimate evening. Namely Dexter Tan and Jonathan Fong, the visionary founders of Sole Superior, who have been instrumental in shaping the region's sneaker landscape over the past decade.
Under the warm glow of Singapore EDITION’s comfortable salon, the duo shared candid anecdotes about their decade-long journey building Southeast Asia's most influential sneaker convention, spanning industry insights and the evolution of sneaker culture in Southeast Asia. Their storytelling not unlike a live podcast, with guests quietly seated around as servers offered a thoughtfully curated selection of savoury and sweet canapés.
Auchentoshan, the evening's distinguished spirits partner, elevated the experience with three bespoke cocktails keenly crafted to resonate with the sneakerhead crowd. The Auchen Three Wood stood out with its rich and smooth profile, showcasing the complexities of double sherry cask maturation.
In contrast, the Auchen Autonomy challenged traditional norms by delivering a fizzy reimagination of the classic old fashioned. This drink epitomises the spirit of being self-made—a philosophy that not only fueled Sole Superior’s rise to being Singapore’s first sneaker convention, but also mirrors Auchentoshan’s commitment to standing apart. As one of the few distilleries employing a triple distillation process (scotch whiskies are typically double distilled), Auchentoshan has forged a unique identity for itself, boldly reflected in the cocktail.
The crowd favourite, however, was the Auchen Tì—a name cleverly playing on the Gaelic word for "tea". With a perfect balance of oaky depth and fruity brightness, it’s no wonder why it’s been crowned the brand’s signature long serve. A cold drink in hand and tongues loosened by the Scottish whisky's signature smoothness, conversations came easily—touching on everything from rare releases to the future of sneaker conventions in Singapore.
As the evening progressed, the salon became a microcosm for what Sole Superior represents—a space to celebrate community, creativity, and the cultural appreciation of streetwear. Guests left not just with new connections, but with a deeper appreciation for the artistry and community fuelling the local sneaker scene.
Purchase the Auchentoshan Threewood here.
A friend recently asked me, “Do you think Nike will make a comeback?”
The question followed an exchange about recent releases by some of its biggest competitors—including Adidas, New Balance and ASICS—that have overshadowed the activities of the Oregon-based sportswear giant.
“It has a few tricks up it sleeve,” I—a big Swoosh advocate—responded.
Said tricks: impending re-releases of its most sought-after grails.
The Air Jordan 1 “Bred”, Undefeated x Air Jordan 4 and PlayStation x Nike Air Force 1 are all said to be returning in 2025.
But before all that, a greater gift to the sneakerheads. Something epic to mark the grand re-opening of the most protected vaults in its archives. A reissue of a kick that has never before been revisited; only 36 pairs were made to the public when it released 25 years ago.
The Wu-Tang Clan Dunk High, ladies and gentleman.
Back in black and pollen—a visual nod to the hip-hop group's affiliates known as the “Killer Beez”—and with Wu's “W” logo embroidered on its lateral heel, it looks just as it did in 1999.
Much like the band's de facto lead, RZA, actually, who we can confirm is in support of the drop. “These sneakers are a trophy,” he expressed to Nike, “[...] and now thousands of people will have a chance to own a pair.”
With that, it sounds like the Dunk High is set to restore its standing and so is Nike.
The Wu-Tang Clan Dunk drops 9 Saturday November on the Nike SNKRS app and select Nike retailers.
Originally published on Esquire UK
The fact that Tod's has been around for over a century is not lost on those who have ever slipped their feet into its shoes, myself included. Tod’s time-honed expertise and craftsmanship of its artisans are apparent in the make and feel—from the iconic classics to newer iterations developed from its archives.
The deep dives are constant, and why shouldn’t they be? The brand’s heritage is founded on craftsmanship and referencing it only serves to further emphasise the quality of its creations.
For example, the T Timeless series is characterised by the T symbol, an iconic detail that has become an instantly recognisable identifier of Tod’s. It makes its presence felt on a slew of bags, shoes and accessories, both as a mark of the brand as well as a reiteration of the item’s timeless appeal.
The series consists of true Tod’s staples. The ever iconic Gommino loafers—the pebbled sole footwear that made the brand a household name—is branded with the T Timeless hardware that sits seamlessly on the shoe’s bridge. Then, there’s the T Timeless crossbody bag (seen here on global brand ambassador Xiao Zhan) is affixed with the symbol as a sleek buckle that adds a refined character to the clean lines of the bag.
Tod’s skilful way of designing and crafting timeless pieces is exemplified in its latest T Vintage shoes. As the name suggests, the new sneaker references the sporty styles of the ’80s and ’90s, with topstitched detailing to highlight its more casual aesthetic. The wedge sole is designed to provide exceptional comfort and support, lined with the signature Gommino pebble rubber sole for that grip and durability. The T Vintage is available in a number of colourways true to its sporty inspiration, but a duo of sleek, all-leather variations are understated elegance at its best.
Our possessions do get beat up pretty easily especially if they’re continuously used. But the thing with Tod’s is you can rest easy knowing that for the entire lifespan of your item, the design will stand the test of time. T for Tod’s; T for timeless.
No, there isn’t a new artistic director at Berluti. In fact, there hasn’t been one since Kris Van Assche left the Maison in 2021. There is, however, a new CEO in the form of Jean-Marc Mansvelt.
Mansvelt has been in the LVMH Group of brands for decades. He had spent about 10 years in Louis Vuitton before moving to become jewellery house Chaumet’s CEO in 2015, focusing on storytelling to revive what was often referred to as the “sleeping beauty” of the jewellery world. And while high jewellery is far from the world of luxury fashion, Mansvelt is likely to enact a somewhat similar approach to Berluti as its CEO.
The Maison’s latest campaign is the first of what is certain to be many new directional changes for Berluti. Lensed by Bastian Archard, whose works often capture objects and people in a quiet and intimate manner, the 17-image campaign zeroes in on the Maison’s emblematic pieces. They’re treated like objets d’art—shoes and bags positioned on pedestals, while ready-to-wear pieces envelope and take on the personalities of the models they’re put on.
There’s no distinguishing the timeless Berluti classics from pieces picked out from the latest collections. It’s a strategic and artful approach to signal this new chapter of Berluti where seasonality is seemingly obsolete. Instead, the focus is on the craft honed by its artisans. A number of the images from the campaign highlight the design intricacies and details that are easily recognisable for those already familiar with Berluti, while serving as a reminder of the hands and artistry that go behind each piece. The tone-on-tone hand-stitching of the Andy loafers, and the sliver of the contemporary on the sporty-soled Fast Track leather sneakers showcase time-honoured expertise, and are essentially a snapshot of the artisans themselves. The scuffed up and worn out soles of a pair of Alessandro lace-ups demonstrate that Berluti’s pieces are meant to be lived in and remain dependable for years to come.
Perhaps, the most drastic change is the return of the classic Berluti logo. The serif typography has been revived, given due prominence with each and every campaign image bearing the mark—even alongside the Van Assche-initiated trademark onto the sole of a pair of boots. And like the creations it’s featured against, the emblem radiates character and renewed energy, a signifier of the history and upcoming stories yet to be told with the brand.
All that is to say: Berluti is home.
Meet Darryl, the coolest Converse in recent years.
He's the brainchild of Mr Can Do It All, Tyler, the Creator—a trainer created by the musician via his Wes Anderson-y fashion brand Golf le Fleur as part of its ongoing partnership with the stalwart footwear label.
Both a youthful spirit and an old soul, Darryl is a twist on the traditional (the Converse Chuck 70 Low, that is).
For now, Darryl comes in five different candy shop colours: "milky blue", "lemon meringue", "margarita", "orchid petal" and "dachshund". He will come in five more—a red, a tan, a pink, a green and a true blue—a little later.
In each of his variants, he wears an image of his namesake (that's Golf le Fleur mascot, Darryl the Dog) on his lateral heel-side, a big bell boy graphic on his outsole and a retro name card illustration on the inner of his tongue.
Some really fat laces and an off-white midsole renders him much charisma.
In the lookbook posted by Tyler and the two brands, "margarita" Darryl is styled with a suit, tie and a jumper tied around the waist; 'lemon meringue' Darryl adds an urban dimension to a beachy look (a shirt, short and cap combo); 'dachshund' Darryl looks good with some baggy chinos, a long-sleeve polo and a folded chess board; 'milky blue' Darryl enhances a casual tee and jeans 'fit; and in "orchid petal", he completes a zeitgeisty ensemble made up of a v-neck jumper, a shirt, a tie, some cuffed jeans, a braided belt, a hair pick and a notebook adorned with a picture of Darryl the dog.
In short, he's adaptable, which is hardly surprising since he's a Libra. Which also explains his charm and sophistication.
That's some kind words coming from a card-carrying Gemini.
Golf le Fleur x Converse's Darryl will be released in five colours and is expected to drop here, too.
Originally published on Esquire UK
hen New Balance dropped news of the 1906L earlier this year, the Internet was abuzz. Some people loved the techy shoe-loafer hybrid. Some people hated it. I was decidedly in the former category.
It's been a long, cold year, waiting for these shoes to drop but we made it. [The] morning [that it was released], buyers as hopeful as I flocked to the New Balance website and waited in a queue to purchase the shoes that dare to merge the everyday and the elevated. Alas, the silver sneaker-slash-penny-loafer of my dreams is finally here.
Sure, this loafer looks cool as hell—a metallic silver outer with a retro-looking mesh upper and shiny synthetic overlays will tend to do that—but what makes it truly worthy of excitement is its craftsmanship. This is still New Balance, after all. The brand makes some of the comfiest sneakers on the market and that same tech is utilised in the 1906L.
Drawing from the best-selling 1906 sneaker, the 1906L has a comfortable, cushiony 860v2 sole unit, shock-absorbency pods at the heel and outsole and a breathable, open-holed upper. It's all about merging contemporary fashion with the functionality we know and love New Balance for.
Unsurprisingly, this shoe sold out within a couple hours of [its launching] but we'll be sure to keep you posted when they're available again. And if you see me walking around this fall with silvery, mesh penny loafers paired with everything from dressed-down jeans and a tee to an elevated office fit, take a cue and get yourself a pair—the 1906L is about to be the new go-to.
Originally published on Esquire US
Italian craftsmanship traditions meet Indian artisanal techniques in the latest Tod's Factory project. Renowned Indian designer Rahul Mishra—known for his incredibly intricate creations that draw inspiration from India's rich cultural heritage—reimagines a range of Tod's icons for both men and women, adding touches of opulence for pieces meant to be seen and admired.
Mishra explains that the Rahul Mishra x Tod's collection is a result of "drawing inspiration from nature, my constant muse, crafting classic in-house motifs and the distinctive foliage, synonymous with my designs". Kaarigar artisans were employed to decorate leather with embroideries reflecting nature. On the Tod's Gommino loafers and mules, these embroideries take on the shape of Mishra's Tree of Life motif and woven with silk on black velvet trimmed with leather for men, while women Gommino loafers are additionally done in a metallic nappa leather. Similar techniques are applied on the Di Bag and the Timeless T shoulder bag, amped up with sequins, crystals and beads.
More than simply introducing Indian artisanal techniques onto Tod's icons, the Tod's Factory project is an artistic dialogue. The project was launched in 2018, first with Italian fashion designer Alessandro Dell'Acqua and has since seen collaborations with creatives the likes of the late Alber Elbaz, Hender Scheme, as well as a three-prong with Moncler and Palm Angels. Tod's Factory allows these creatives access to the brand's craftsmen and savoir faire in Italy's Marche region, and of course, breathing new life to classic Tod's pieces.
This latest Tod's Factory edition is easily a standout based on the decorations alone. The Gommino loafers for men would make for the perfect evening option with suiting, while the Timeless T mules are an easy way of dressing up a classic white-shirt-and-jean pairing. Because when the pieces are this beautiful, they deserve all the spotlight.
The Rahul Mishra x Tod's collection is now available in boutiques and online.
The "Singaporean Dream" is often summed up by the "three Cs"—condominium, cash and cars. For those not in the know, the three Cs are typical markers of success in our little red dot. Among them, owning a car is particularly challenging given the high cost of a COE—especially if we're talking about luxury brands like Porsche. But if the car seems out of reach, consider their limited edition sneaker as the first step.
It's no surprise that such a brand like Porsche would throw something extravagant for its 50th anniversary: 12 country sneakers in collaboration with PUMA, each limited to 911 units.
The collection has a sentimental touch to it, drawing on historic connections to iconic Porsche models. Two special-editions sneakers are particularly noteworthy: the "Turbo No. 1" and "Turbo 930", both inspired by the cars—the first presented to Louise Piëch on her 70th birthday and the latter created in honour of Dr Ferry Porsche's 911 Turbo from 1976. It's a must-buy for vintage collectors. Meanwhile, the remaining 10 local editions are tailored to their specific market.
Let's not overlook the exclusive Polar Blue colourway, specially chosen for the Porsche Asia Pacific region. This striking colour embodies the 50-year evolution of the 911 Turbo—symbolising loyalty, stability and progress.
The design features vintage turbo lettering, a subtle Porsche logo on the exterior and a heel design inspired by the original 911 Turbo's "whale tail" rear spoiler and horizontal red tail lights. A tonal Porsche Crest in 3D print is featured on the hell, while the lacing is adorned with a removable plaque commemorating the 50th anniversary. All models are built on PUMA's new motorsport-inspired PUMA "Road Rider" sneaker silhouette.
Alongside the Asia Pacific edition, exclusive market editions will be released in countries such as Germany, France, Poland, the Netherlands, the UK, Japan, Taiwan and the US. Each inspired by specific Porsche 911 Turbo cars, featuring one of 30 original exterior colours from the car brand's 1975-1977 charts.
Every purchase comes with an exclusive black sports bag, which doubles as the footwear's packaging and an additional set of black laces. Priced at SGD329, these sneakers are available at Porsche Studio Singapore and online.
Iron Man (2008) is Ronnie Fieg's favourite Marvel Cinematic Universe film. But if we open things up to the entire multiverse – that's Disney's 'sacred timeline' and beyond—it's got to be Logan (2017).
“I've seen almost every [Marvel] film,” the founder of lifestyle brand Kith tells us over email. “Given the recent news revealed at San Diego Comic Con [ICYMI, Robert Downey Jr is returning to the fold as Doctor Doom], I’m excited to see how they will tie everything together in the upcoming Avengers films.”
It's unlikely that anything will usurp 2017's pseudo-farewell to Hugh Jackman's Wolverine for him, though. “I remember leaving the theatre [after watching Logan] and being in awe of its new perspective on characters we had so much history with.”
New perspective is exactly what the NYC-based designer/entrepreneur has to offer through Kith's latest collaboration with Marvel, one that marks the House of Super's 85th anniversary by saluting “the characters we love to hate”: the baddies.
“Marvel Villians have such complicated and deep character stories; it's hard not to have an emotional connection with them,” he says. “I felt they deserved a moment of their own.”
'Super Villains' marks the third collaboration between Kith and Marvel. Followers of Fieg will remember that the first was an ode to Spider-Man, a celebration of 60 years of the web slinger, and the second marked the 60th anniversary of the X-Men.
The latter collection, which launched last summer, revolved around a pack of seven ASICS Remastered Gel-Lyte IIIs—each inspired by a different mutant (except, Wolverine played muse to two). It proved remarkably popular, which came as no surprise to Fieg, a man who exists in the realms of both comic books and sneakers.
“Ultimately, it comes down to being a collector,” says Fieg, referring to the crossover between the two communities. “It leads you to finding like-minded individuals, and once you’ve become part of that community and immersed yourself in the culture of it, it becomes a part of you.”
Accordingly, sneakers are at the forefront and centre of the annual Kith x Marvel drop for a second consecutive year. ASICS, again.
“I’ve been working with ASICS’ vintage tech catalogue for three or four years now – we’ve [constantly] integrated exclusive colourways into our seasonal collections and capsules.”
Kith's support of the Japanese footwear label has surely played a part in its recent rise. ASICS has seen a 600 per cent growth on StockX this year, driven by the Gel-NYC, the GT-2160, the Gel-Kayano 14 and the Gel-1130.
Three of these silhouettes—all but the Gel-NYC—are implemented in this drop. Given the Marvel x Kith treatment. Injected with Oscorp super serum, if you will. “The panelling on the uppers of these silhouettes lent themselves to menacing and dynamic colour blocking,” Fieg tells us.
Each comes packaged in a very special box with an original, villain-focused comic book. There are several covers of varying degrees of rarity. Like the X-Men trading cards included in last year's shoe boxes, some are officially authenticated by US-based authenticator company, PSA.
Below, Fieg walks us through all five colourways, including the one he wears the most, the 'Green Goblin', and his favourite – the soul stone in his infinity gauntlet – the 'Silver Surfer'.
“Silver Surfer is an incredibly complex character. His path would eventually lead him to righteousness, but when we’re first introduced to him, he’s herald of Galactus [the Fantastic Four's biggest threat]. He’s responsible for identifying planets for Galactus to devour, causing the deaths of entire worlds and their populations.
“I love this model. The materials we used really brought the character’s design to life. The vamp and quarter panels use a special translucent mesh, while the overlays feature this silver iridescent finish which looks incredible in the light.”
“I talked about this in a podcast last year, but for those who don’t know, I actually designed a Remastered Gel Lyte III 'Magneto' colourway to be part of our X-Men collection, but, ultimately didn’t make sense for the story. I loved the colourway though and when thinking about this year’s collection, I knew for sure I wanted to bring that idea to life. I started from scratch using the GEL-1130 which I think came out even stronger.”
“This is a nod back to our first collaboration with Marvel, which celebrated Spider-Man’s 60th anniversary. When identifying the different villains we’d feature, Venom was a no-brainer. Which led me to the idea of creating a special double-box set of Spider-Man vs. Venom.
“This colourway references Spidey’s classic red-and-blue suit. He’s one of my favourite characters of all time, especially considering he, like myself, is a Queens native.”
“Venom is one of my favourite villains. Out of all the characters, I think I enjoyed going through his artwork archive the most. The different artists throughout his history have created such incredible illustrations and images of him. The storylines that pit Spider-Man against him were always my favourite, along with [Spider-Man vs. Green Goblin].”
“Green Goblin is one of those villains imprinted in the minds of everyone who's even remotely familiar with the comics. He’s iconic. He’s as vicious as they come. I love his colour palette, and being able to integrate various shades of green against the purple accents.”
The Marvel x Kith x ASICS collaboration launches in Kith stores, the Kith webstore and the Kith app on Friday 9 August alongside the rest of the Marvel x Kith 85th Anniversary Collection.
Originally published on Esquire UK
It may seem counterintuitive but it's good to go grey, even in a world of colours. Back in the late 70s and early 80s, New Balance's answer to all-white runners messed up by the urban elements was grey running shoes. The fondness of the colour soon took over the brand's aesthetics and ethos. As Paul Kaseumsouk, New Balance's Business Unit Manager explains, "Grey is balance. Grey is neutral. Grey is calming." Can't argue with that. More than just a colour, grey has turned into a philosophy of the brand. So much so, that it has been marketed into New Balance's Grey Day (held on 10 May). But never underestimate the power of belief as the one-day event has proved so popular that it has stretched over a whole month. That's right, the forecast for the whole of May is a month full of Grey Days.
For this week (14-17 May), there will be a host of drops to empty your wallets for and a pop-up at ION Orchard. The retail space at ION Orchard has turned into a dynamic multi-sport court. Decked out in the signature grey palette, the pop-up will be an immersive experience that looks at New Balance’s storied running culture. With regards to drops, the Grey Days collection featuring both new and existing Grey styles like the 327, 574 and 550 models, is out now in New Balance stores and online.
On 17 May, the Grey Days WRPD Runner and 1906R will be released (image above). The inspiration for these special-edition designs is the "timelessness of stone" and will feature mixed materials and distressed details to give it that "worn-in" look. We are especially drawn to the 1906R model aka "Moonrock" for that space dust appearance. The debut of the Fresh Foam x 1080 "Grey" (image below) drops on 20 May. The shoes come in a suede detailing and that perennial, tonal grey colourway.
But that's not all. A short film was created to further commemorate the event. Titled, Grey Days, the film takes us on a journey of New Balance's place in sneaker culture. Made out of several vignettes, each section portray a different aspect of the brand’s history. Made in collaboration with, up-and-coming American Haiku, and creative directors like Thom Glover and Daniel Wolfe, alongside Elliott Power, director of photography Norm Li, 1960s retro animation from Stray London and still photography by Samuel Bradley.
These days, shoe brands are trying to create their own holidays. I mean, what's more ubiquitous than Google Alert bringing your attention to a commercialised holiday? There's Nike with its Air Max Day; New Balance with Grey Day; and now Clarks launched its inaugural Wallabee Day. This occasion with occur every 26 April. Why this particular date? Welp, according to one source, on 26 April 1971, the JFK Airport customs were in a tizzy in procuring cages to house 4,176 wallabies that were coming in. They were actually 4,176 pairs of Wallabees, not the macropods, from Clarks.
To commemorate the moccasin-inspired shoe that took years off from some poor custom agent at JFK, Clarks teamed with local artist and constant smiler, tobyato for 30 unique pairs of Wallabee shoes. But they aren't your ordinary Wallbee in a different colourway. Nay, tobyato up the ante by creating a design that's inspired by the Chinese dragon dance.
The custom uses the iconic Clarks silhouette as a background for tobyato's artistic vision. Each shoe features a single laser-engraved frame from a swirling dragon dance animation (see above). Think of the 30 pairs as 30 frames that, when displayed together, show a mesmerising looping animation. This is an innovative approach to footwear design but also, must be a real bitch if you wanna locate all the buyers of Clarks x tobyato Wallabees for a reunion.
Aside from the animation, there are other nuances to the shoes like the custom acrylic and wooden charms that hang off the rope laces. Again, these are limited to just 30 pairs and it's bound to be a collectable item (who knows, by the time you read this, it'll all be snapped up).
The Wallabee Dragon Dance edition is exclusively available at Chamber, online and at Clarks ION.
Your cool dad's shoes will see new colourways to its MADE in USA line. New Balance will drop new hues for the 990v4 and the 990v6 model for its second instalment of its MADE in USA Spring/Summer 2024 collection. Given the world's stage today, if you ever wonder if anything good can come out of America, this release would be one of those.
New Balance revisits the iconic 990v4, painting it in two new colourways: "Arctic Grey" and "Macadamia Nut". These sneakers flaunt a streamlined design that seamlessly merged mesh with pigskin suede overlays. With a touch of elegance, the arctic grey variant features a buffed and sanded down Nubuck leather accents. The "N" logo is stitched across the lateral sidewalls in leather. Unlike the classic flat laces that you'd find on other 990v4s, this version is tied together with two-tone chunky rope ones, which gives off a rugged trail shoe inspired look. Not feeling the rope laces, there's an extra pair of plain black laces when you feel like switching it up. The contrasting black soles and breathable mesh offers a striking blend of tones and textures. Overall, the sleek look is a testament to New Balance's penchant for contemporary aesthetics.
Next, New Balance introduces fresh hues for the legendary 990v6 model. Called 'True Camo', just as its name suggests, the shoe comes in a mix of olive, forest green and brownish shades. The colour palette makes this shoe a versatile companion for various outfit configurations. Light brown suede wraps around the heel, side portions and toe, extending to the shoe’s eyestays. Green mesh panels and leather webbing of the upper complements the subdued grey and off-white midsole, making it perfect for those who seek style and functionality.
The second chapter to New Balance’s MADE in USA Spring/Summer Collection 2024 series is available online and at the following stores from tomorrow:
ION Orchard, Jewel Changi, Suntec City, Paragon
(Made in USA 990v4 in 'Arctic Grey' and 'Macadamia Nut' (SGD339)
Jewel Changi, Suntec City, Paragon
- Made in USA 990v6 in 'True Camo' (SGD359)
