In the world of sneakers, two-way collabs have become the norm, but three-way collabs, like the upcoming Jean Paul Gaultier x Sacai x Nike Vaporwaffle Woven, are pretty hard to come by. Good ones, at least. Arriving three years after the trio’s first project together, if you thought the 2020 collection was strange, this one takes the uncanny levels up a notch (or ten).
Revealed in two colourways including ‘Green Gusto’ and ‘White,’ this model first dropped back in 2019, and is basically a deconstructed take on the classic Waffle from the ‘70s. While previous releases have been made either from mesh or nylon, the French designer’s VaporWaffle features a woven construction that’s crafted from all sorts of fabrics and materials.
But the weirdness doesn’t stop there. In typical Sacai fashion, the Japanese house has doubled the lacing systems and the tongues. Even the midsole has been multiplied by two. Co-branded detailing is printed around the back (just in case you needed more proof that this isn’t any old trainer), and all of this comes packed in an exclusive Nike shoebox that was purpose-built for this collab.
Jean Paul Gaultier and Sacai have a special kind of relationship. In 2021, Gaultier revealed that he was delivering his final couture show after five awesome decades. It was an upsetting day for cone bra fans, but it also marked the beginning of an exciting new chapter, as it was announced that Sacai’s Chitose Abe was in charge of the first post-JPG haute couture collection as guest designer.
The Jean Paul Gaultier x Sacai x Nike Vaporwaffle Woven is a continuation of this remarkable partnership. Set to release on November 22 exclusively on Jean Paul Gaultier’s website and select stores globally, it’ll set you back around £200 a pop.
