If it feels like Ronnie Fieg is moving at hyper-speed while the rest of us are standing still, that’s because, sometimes, he is. Never one to rest on his laurels — and he’s got more than we can count after over a decade of hugely successful sneaker collabs — Fieg recently announced that he has teamed up with Clarks Originals on a very special project. And to top it off his Kith imprint is dropping a corresponding apparel collection for all your styling woes.
Earlier this week, Fieg unveiled the first drop from his Clarks partnership, which sees him working with the brand to create original footwear designs that exist in the space between brown shoes and sneakers. Think more luxurious and focused on craftsmanship than traditional sportswear but much more casual than brown shoes.
Ahead of 8th Street's debut release, Kith just gave us a look at its Spring 2 2021 collection dropping alongside the footwear today. The transitional offering is filled with perfect spring-to-summer pieces such as vintage crew necks, Jordan shorts, track jackets, and bucket hats.
The sneakers' athletic approach to luxury is reflected in the minimal preppy fits. The collection's color story also builds on 8th Street's original Maple, Scarab, and Antler colorways. The season even debuts two new custom prints, a floral artwork, and a custom Moroccan Kith tile, to go along with the 8th Street debut. It's a perfect and concise style lesson for Fieg x Clark's brand new sneaker model.
Kith Spring 2 2021 releases on April 16 at all Kith stores and online at 11 AM EST.
How to buy the 8th Street by Ronnie Fieg for Clarks Originals collection
Brand: 8th Street by Ronnie Fieg for Clarks Originals
Model: Sandford and Lockhill
Release Date: April 16
Price: $220
Buy: In-store and online at Kith
What the Internet Is Saying: The fact that the designs sit in between traditional sportswear and brown shoe design is widely appreciated, with one user comparing them to Nike Air Max 1s, “but with premium materials” and construction.
What We’re Saying: As part of the first drop, Fieg and Clarks have developed two silhouettes — the Sandford and Lockhill — both of which were named after English towns relevant to the origin of Clarks.
The Sandford, which refers to where Clarks had its first warehouse in London, features a microperforated suede upper, crepe sole, and leather welting. It arrives in two colorways — Maple and Scarab. The Lockhill refers to the brand’s first-ever shoe repair factory in the Somerset town of Street. It mixes a perforated suede base with premium suede overlays at the mudguard, heel, and upper. It, too, arrives in two colorways — slid Antler and the blocked Maple/Scarab/Red.
Fieg previously revealed that he had originally started an independent sneaker brand in 2016 called World of Niché. “ I wanted to create my own silhouettes from top-to-bottom and execute them with luxury craftsmanship that would live in a world of its own,” Fieg wrote in the caption of an Instagram post. However, with Kith growing rapidly at the time, he decided to shut down World of Niché to focus on his main business.
Now, Clarks is giving Fieg the creative freedom to do with World of Niché what he was unable to do previously. The sub-brand will exist in Clarks Originals’ ecosystem and be called “8th Street.”
Where to buy the 8th Street by Ronnie Fieg for Clarks Originals collection
Kith (in-store and online)
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