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This Reebok x Eames Collab Is the Ultimate Flex

The sneaker drop of a lifetime
A group shot of the Reebok x Eames footwear line.
A group shot of the Reebok x Eames footwear line.Photo: Reebok

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We’ve been saying that furniture is the new flex in streetwear, but Reebok just took that concept to the next level by teaming up with Eames on a sneaker collection. (We’ve been living for the memes ever since Reebok’s senior global product marketing manager, Leo Gamboa, teased it.) The collaboration has been in the works since 2019 and pays homage to the multifaceted legacy of Charles and Ray Eames, the iconic husband-and-wife duo that revolutionized the design world from 1941 onward.

This marks the first-ever footwear partnership with the Eames Office, which is currently run by the third generation of the Eames family. For the firm, having the opportunity to tell the bigger story of Charles and Ray and the ideas behind their work was the most appealing factor of this type of collaboration, but it was also imperative to wait for the right partner. “We really feel fortunate that we got to know Charles and Ray, so we feel an acute responsibility,” explains Eames Demetrios, director of the Eames Office. “What drives us is that the things that they thought about are still completely relevant.” He’s proud to say that the collection is a true reflection of the playful side of his grandparents that will “knock people’s socks off” both literally and figuratively.

“While the Eameses were known primarily for their designs of furniture, exhibitions, films and architecture, they also engaged in designing more everyday objects such as toys, textiles and clothing—so sneaker design is not really quite a stretch,” says Carla Hartman, director of education for the Eames Office, and another grandchild of Charles and Ray. 

The friends and family version of the Club C silhouette is a modern interpretation of Case Study House 8, the famous Eames House located in Los Angeles’s Pacific Palisades neighborhood, as shown by the multicolored logo. The Monotone pack features gray soles woven with Eames Office tags and an insole decked out in a colorful triangle print, while the Ray Eames Signature pack attributes a reproduction of her Composition painting of 1939 and the Eames Dot Pattern textile print of 1947.

“Each shoe within the Eames x Reebok collection has had its own set of needs—and, therefore, its own set of solutions," explains Carla. “So many evaluations and decisions were required: color, material, stitching, label, tongue, footbed, laces—even aglets! And, when one shoe was finalized, the process began again with the next.”

The Reebok x Eames Club C Monotone pack looking fresh in white.

Photo: Reebok

Leo assures that “this collaboration is richer and more meaningful because it isn’t about rubber stamping a logo on the product but rather one about storytelling, reaching a broader audience together, and building a meaningful partnership.” He adds, “Without a doubt, I knew the story [of Charles and Ray] would be an incredible one to tell through sneakers.” Each pair passed the Eamesian test, which Carla outlines as “collaboration, attention to detail, iteration, and way-it-should-be-ness to name a few.” 

Functional versatility is the core of the design behind each shoe, but it’s the unpretentious presentation of the product that stands out. As Eames explains, his grandparents firmly believed that “the role of the designer is that of a good host anticipating the needs of the guest” and instilled this into every design that they created. “[Charles and Ray] weren’t icons of monitors, they were incredibly curious people,” he says. “They were always asking us about what was intriguing us… That spirit really defined their approach.”

A closeup of a black pair of the Reebok x Eames Club C Monotone pack with the triangle print insole.

Photo: Reebok

Erin Narloch, a senior manager at Reebok, points out how the “maturity and studied nature of [midcentury-modern] design highlights an essential, refined, curated, and considered approach to the human experience and our environment.” Charles and Ray deeply understood that aesthetics could be a part of function, and when the built and designed world reflects a human-centered experience, we can all relate to it because it’s an integral part of everyday life.

“I feel like footwear and design have a long-held love affair, flirtation, or at the very least affection for one another’s work,” Erin explains. “Furniture, interiors, and design, like footwear, reflect identity, status, lifestyle, and aesthetic. In both footwear and Eames-era design, I’d also venture to say [there’s] an undercurrent of accessibility, innovation, and commerce… This approach is a foil to the hype, excess, and lavishness that can be a hallmark in sneakers. As a result, the Eames design message cuts through. It’s an honest and integral message that calls for ‘the best, the most, the least,’ and an approach that then becomes grail.”

Prior to heading up Reebok’s archive, Erin spent more than a decade working in museums. As someone with an affinity for furniture, art, culture, and design, this collaboration has been the ultimate passion project for her. (Erin’s personal favorite Eames pieces are the Kazam! Machine and Aluminum Group Chairs.) “I curated an exhibition more than 10 years ago called ‘It’s Herman Miller Time’ in Wisconsin, during which I had the opportunity to research the lives of Ray and Charles and their impact on design today,” she adds. “From that moment on I’ve been hooked. To work on this project has truly been a dream.”

The functionality of Reebok x Eames footwear.

Photo: Reebok

This partnership arrives at a time where the collective conscience fully recognizes the power of design during an age of choices. So, for some people, this sneaker will be an entry into the world of Charles and Ray. In its own special way, the Reebok x Eames collection serves as an extension of teaching tools about design. As a design educator, Carla views this product line as a “complex study of design choices.” 

While the footwear should appeal to a variety of fans, Erin and Leo agree that “this partnership is intended for those who think differently, appreciate good design, stories, and premium material executions.” No doubt that it will become a staple in the wardrobe of the next generation of creators, innovators, and geniuses that shape our world.

Eames is certain that his grandparents would have respected the artistic vision that went into the Reebok x Eames project. He views sneakers as a valuable method of communication and “a place to share images and awareness.” He adds, “What better way for people to bring these designs into their lives?”

The Reebok x Eames Club C Monotone pack (black and white) will be available exclusively online starting October 15, followed by a wider global release on October 21 at select retailers for $120. (The Ray Eames Signature pack is expected to drop later this season.) In the meantime, please enjoy this extremely satisfying unboxing, while you wait to place an order.