Reebok this week announced three new product lines tapping into nature, nostalgia and mid-century design.
The National Geographic Nano X1
Marking its second collaboration with the monthly nature-focused publication, Reebok announced the release of a new version of its Nano X1 sneaker in a vegan fabrication on Tuesday. The Oct. 22 drop will follow a previous line released in September, which was made up of performance, lifestyle and kids’ silhouettes.
According to the Boston-based brand, the plant-based trainer is Reebok’s most versatile performance shoe, crafted with a durable Flexweave knit upper with integrated support to hold foot steady during quick, lateral movements. The label’s signature Floatride Energy Foam is made with a castor bean compound for flexible forefoot cushioning.
“Similarly to the debut collection, this silhouette draws inspiration from National Geographic’s riveting visual storytelling from around the world,” Reebok said in a statement, noting that the Nano X1 Vegan release was inspired by sea ice between Canada and Greenland, featuring a sockliner patterned with berries, moss and foliage from the frozen landscape. The shoe’s tongue features a QR code that shoppers can use to view 360-degree videos of the northern region.
The shoe will be available on Reebok.com in adult sizes for $130.
Ghostbusters Footwear and Apparel
Who ya gonna call? The answer for Reebok, once again, is Ghostbusters.
To drum up buzz around the impending release of the new film, “Ghostbusters: Afterlife,” on Nov. 19, the athleticwear brand announced the launch of a capsule collection of kicks and other movie-themed merch for the whole family.
The first collaboration between the two brands took place in October 2020, and the success of the line spurred the release of an even larger collection this time around. Reebok said that the products in the second themed collection, which drops Oct. 15, will draw influence from some of the franchise’s original films, while others will be directly inspired by characters and themes from the new movie hitting theaters next month. The nostalgia-inducing nature of Ghostbusters, which was first released in the ‘80s, interplays with the classic Reebok silhouettes featured in the collection.
Related Stories
The $160 unisex Ecto Boot, for example, is a modern reflection of Reebok’s OG Pump shoe, released around the same time as the first Ghostbusters film. With utilitarian styling, the shoe features an abrasion-resistant toe, TPU heel cap, neoprene collar and speed lacing system.
Meanwhile, the Zig Kinetica, available for all ages, takes on a more modern aesthetic as it was inspired by one of the upcoming film’s never-before-seen characters. Made to embody the spirit—pun intended—of a ghost named Muncher, the translucent upper glows in the dark, and features silver details representing the poltergeist’s preferred snacks.
The Instapump Fury, which retails for $200, was created with a psychoreactive slime from Ghostbusters II in mind, Reebok said. A semi-translucent gel emulates the look of the gooey substance. The Answer IV celebrates the franchise’s Terror Dogs through hidden details like red eyelets (to represent the canines’ glowing eyes) as well as a nubuck and cracked leather upper.
Young fans will also have a chance to take part in the collection’s fun with the release of the Zig Kinetica Kids, which feature a plump group of marshmallow-shaped ghosts dubbed the Mini-Pufts on a white, black and red upper.
Select shoes will be sold in specialized packaging that pays homage to the Ghostbusters franchise, and the two sweatshirts designed to match the Answer IV and Zig Kinetica themes round out the line.
Charles and Ray Eames Club C
Reebok planned an altogether different kind of drop for Oct. 15, honoring the artistic legacy of two of the 20th century’s great furniture designers and architects, Charles and Ray Eames.
Through an exclusive collaboration with the late talents’ firm, Eames Office, Reebok has created the Eames Club C Monotone Pack, inspired by their contributions to American design.
“Known for their ground-breaking furniture creations for Herman Miller and Vitra, the husband-and-wife team redefined post-war American design and shaped the 20th century with their playful yet purposeful sensibility,” Reebok said in a statement. According to the company, the Eames’ philosophy centered around building objects that transcend utilitarian function and enrich people’s lives.
“The Eames adage, ‘Take your pleasure seriously,’ reminds us that form and function are inseparable paths to joyous ways of living, making sneakers an ideal medium to celebrate the life and work of Charles and Ray Eames,” it added.
Eames Office designs have demonstrated a particular longevity that aligns with the footwear company’s goal of designing classic shoe silhouettes that stand the test of time. The Club C, released originally in 1985, serves as the palette for exploration in this capsule, Reebok said, with innovations to materials and process that are both modern and unpretentious.
The Reebok x Eames Club C black and white Monotone Pack ($120) was made for everyday wear. Nuanced heritage details like larger, original-sized tongue tags, square window boxes, die-cut tooling and classic logos give the shoe a retro look, while a restored internal arch bandage provides a feeling of enhanced comfort. The arch showcases a custom Reebok x Eames print, while grey soles and woven tags that read “Eames” on the shoes’ uppers add visual interest.
A second drop taking place later this fall, the Ray Eames Signature Pack, will feature the Club C in two new versions inspired by Eames’ 1939 Composition painting and a dot pattern textile print created in 1947.
All shoes will be packaged in shoeboxes modeled after the Eames House in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood of Los Angeles where the couple lived. The structure, Reebok said, is a testament to their warm, pragmatic design ethos.