Recent Footwear Collabs for Fitness and Recovery
Different summer shoes for different needs, each an intriguing mix of brands
We love a footwear collaboration and right now there are so many thoughtful partnerships that blend performance, style and sustainability. District Vision and New Balance present the FuelCell SC Elite v4, a top-tier race day shoe highlighted by its monochrome palette and minimalist design. Advisory Board Crystals and Merrell’s enhanced Hydro Moc Strap combines the original design with retro and futuristic elements. And Vivobarefoot’s just launched collaboration with Timbaland is a 2,000 pair limited-edition Motus Strength shoe that merges natural movement with high-impact workout capabilities; each pair is hand-signed by Timbaland. Each of these collaborations leverages the best of their partners to deliver shoes that look great, perform phenomenally and have their own story to tell.
District Vision’s collaboration with New Balance focuses on a monochrome palette and minimalist design to accentuate the high-performance FuelCell SC Elite v4, a top-tier race day shoe. This model combines the propulsive FuelCell technology with a thinner carbon fiber plate for superior energy return in a lightweight package. It features a semi-translucent mesh upper, co-branded tongue label and sockliner and the brands’ wordmarks at the outer heel counter. The Energy Arc technology pairs sport-specific carbon fiber plate geometry with strategic midsole voids to increase stored energy and deliver a higher energy return, complemented by a rocker profile for smooth transitions.
Advisory Board Crystals and Merrell have teamed up to enhance the Hydro Moc Strap, preserving its original design ethos while infusing it with new elements like pull tabs and a holographic authenticity patch. The upgraded Hydro Moc features a magnetic adjustable strap with old school foam padding in sleek design that seamlessly blends futuristic and vintage aesthetics. Its water-friendly EVA foam upper offers a lightweight, flexible fit and is easy to clean, while the BLOOM® performance foam, made from algae biomass, transforms green water into clean water. They’re great for recovery, water-wading or just around-the-town strolls.
Vivobarefoot and Timbaland have collaborated on a limited-edition version of Vivobarefoot’s Motus Strength shoe, with only 2,000 pairs available. Designed for natural movement during high-impact workouts, each pair is hand-signed by Timbaland, who credits the shoes with improving his health. The campaign includes a new song, a film, and the Movement Fundamentals VivoHealth course, free with every purchase. Additionally, there’s a giveaway where one winner will spend a day with Timbaland. The partnership, combining music and natural health, promotes a lifestyle harmonizing artistic expression and wellness, reflecting Timbaland’s philosophy of simplicity and reconnection with nature.
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