The Parisian streetwear brand AVNIER is partnering for the third time with outdoor shoe giant SALOMON to offer us their version of the high-performance S-Lab XT 5 Softground model for the spring-summer 2020 season. This collaborative shoe, inspired by the running through the Sahara « Le Marathon des Sables », is called « Mirage Efffect ».
First of all, a little look back at the two brands is in order.
Salomon is a French brand that is a pioneer in outdoor footwear innovation. It was founded in Haute-Savoie in 1947 and still today enjoys unequalled legitimacy in its field, and is distributed in more than 160 countries. It combines qualities of technicality, imagination, simplicity and team spirit. The young label Avnier , created in 2014 by the artist Orelsan and his fashion designer friend Sébastian Strappazon, also shares the same ideas of practicality, comfort, technical innovation and the use of premium materials. It therefore seemed natural that the two brands should want to work together.
The shoe presented today is dressed in a palette of colours that echoes the neutral tones of the desert : sand, ivory and stone. We also find a contrasting blue colour, which refers to the famous water mirages. The pair features a mix of progressive textiles. It consists of a beige perforated mesh upper with sand-coloured overlays in ripstop nylon. There are also synthetic graphics glued on to affirm the sleek design of the model. On the ivory-coloured tongue, we discover an imposing electric blue Avnier logo. This shoe has a simple and effective lacing system patented by Salomon: Quicklace™, here in the same colour as the tongue. To maximise sporting performance, the breathable OrthoLite® insole provides exceptional cushioning and comfort. The whole is based on an ivory SensiFit™ midsole with sand and stone accents, combined with a high-strength Contagrip® TA outsole in electric blue.
To conclude on the design of this pair, Sébastian Strappazzon, co-founder and creative director of Avnier, explains that he wanted to « explore the paradox between freedom and restraint, relaxed and controlled, dualities that can be found across the desolate landscapes of the Sahara where a sense of infinite freedom contrasts with the constraining conditions of the desert ».
This AVNIER x SALOMON S-Lab XT 5 Softground “Mirage Efffect” will be released as a limited edition, available on June 17th on www.avnier.com , sizes ranging from UK4.5 to UK10.5 and for a price of 195€.
