Fascinated by Tokyo’s bustling fashion scene, a young Chitose Abe ended up pursuing an education in fashion design. Abe’s reputation as a trendsetter began with not only that pursuit but also when she joined the iconic fashion label Comme des Garçons as a pattern cutter under Rei Kawakubo. Abe’s aesthetics began to elevate as she continued to train within Japan’s most premier fashion label. After her time at Comme des Garçons, the designer joined Junya Watanabe in launching his namesake label. Later on after Abe took some time off, she officially established Sacai in 1999.

The high-end menswear and womenswear label is unique yet timeless, having been founded on the concept of Abe having a small outlet for creating limited pieces with deep significance to her luxury aesthetics. Sacai and powerhouse apparel and sneaker brand Nike’s relationship first began back in 2015, when NikeLab needed the help of the contemporary cult label in transforming classic performance apparel and footwear into a more modern aesthetic. This newfound commitment started with a Nike Air Max 90, eventually growing into more silhouettes such as the LDWaffle and Blazer Mid + Low. This collaboration embraced the avant-garde spirit of Sacai along with the athleticism and modern technology of Nike’s premium footwear.

Sacai and Nike’s ongoing collaboration moves forward in the Sacai x Nike Cortez 4.0 OG. Teased earlier this year, this premium sneaker incorporates Bill Blowerman’s original 1972 design with the futuristic contemporary aesthetics of Sacai. This wearable piece of art is informed by the 500-year-old Japanese tradition of Kintsugi, which is a ‘Wabi-Sabi’ art of carefully repairing while emphasizing imperfections. The silhouette takes on a leather upper with additional suede overlays. Red and Blue accents are seen throughout, while the signature stacked design of Sacai is treated with maximalist branding. This layered sole unit elevates the shoe, while the Zoom Air bubbles offer even further comfort with each continuous step.

FEATURE Release - Wednesday, August 31st

Sacai x Nike Cortez 4.0 OG - DQ0581-100

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