While many have been eagerly awaiting the release of Salehe Bembury's new collaboration with New Balance, the 35-year-old footwear designer recently surprised fans with a special scavenger hunt centered around the sneaker. Just last night, Bembury took to Instagram to detail the "Finders Keepers" initiative, in which he is hiding pairs of his New Balance Test Run Project 3.0 throughout Los Angeles.
According to Bembury's Instagram post, only 50 pairs of the black label Test Run Project 3.0 have been produced. Select pairs are being hidden in LA neighborhoods for fans to locate and obtain — for free. "When you find them, they are yours to do with what you please," he said.
The individually numbered New Balances have been placed inside "Finders Keepers" bags, as Bembury is offering clues as to where the shoes are located on his Instagram Story, as well as through @beaspunge. It remains to be seen if this particular black label version of the Test Run Project 3.0 will release to the public, or if another similar pair is on the way.
You can find out more about Salehe Bembury's latest New Balance collab below.
Bembury is certainly no stranger to outlandish sneaker design. This is the man responsible for the Versace Chain Reaction, after all. But his new collaboration alongside New Balance may be his wildest creation yet.
The designer first took to Instagram in early February to preview his take on the New Balance Test Run Project 3.0, one that incorporates a slew of patterns and vibrant colors alike. The forefoot, for example, is dressed in leopard print, while a fingerprint-like pattern emerges via a yellow strip on the medial side of the shoe. Elsewhere, we see grey suede and white leather coming together on the toe, as light blue and green panels offer added color at the heel.
The zip-zag strap, a signature detail of the Test Run Project 3.0, appears in white with grey New Balance branding, and Bembury's name is then featured in neon on the neighboring orange tongue tag. Lastly, the sneaker is finished with a patterned white and gold Fresh Foam midsole and a yellow Vibram outsole.
Since leaving Versace, Bembury has continued to tease projects with the likes of New Balance and Chinese sportswear brand ANTA. The designer also recently announced his own brand, Spunge.
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