Viral Brand MSCHF Made New Sneakers to Be Worn Backwards

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For those who can’t get enough of Brooklyn-based art collective MSCHF’s zany designs, the brand will soon release a new version of its BWD sneakers.

Short of “backwards,” the MSCHF BWD High takes the brand’s quirky approach to new heights — literally. Originally released as a low-top in April 2023, the MSCHF BWD features a standard sneaker tongue and heel opening with the addition of a completely open toe. The optical illusion-like creation is actually designed to be worn backwards with the wearer’s foot inserted into the toe area. A secondary tongue and a mule-like heel shape keep the foot in place.

The MSCHF BWD High keeps many of the first BWD sneaker’s details intact, but adds some new flair. Blue replaces the orange seen on the first BWD, with the shade also appearing on a new striped midsole. To convert the BWD into a high-top, a higher ankle cut complete with an adjustable support strap has been added — although it remains to be seen how functional it actually is.

While some initial reports stated that the MSCHF BWD was intended to be worn either backwards or forwards, MSCHF’s official product description for the BWDs notes that they can only be worn backwards. Some YouTubers attempted to wear the sneakers both ways , but concluded the shape of the shoe wasn’t suited for “normal” forwards wear. In February, MSCHF officially released the FWD: a similar overall style and color of sneaker, but with a standard, “forwards” silhouette.

Time and time again, MSCHF has managed to make the headlines for its footwear. Whether it’s the cartoonish Big Red Boots or the collective’s Lil Nas X “Satan Shoe” collaboration (which drew the legal ire of Nike ), the brand seems to have landed on a recipe for virality.

Its latest endeavor, the MSCHF BWD High, will be released Tuesday, Sept. 24 for a retail price of $200 from store.mschf.com .

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