Nike SB x Wacko Maria: Janoski & Blazer Low GT
Capturing Tokyo’s playful character and its boisterous sense of against-the-grain creativity, Nike SB joins ranks with Japanese fashion label Wacko Maria, aka Guilty Parties, to celebrate the release of two refreshing QuickStrike rewrites; the Janoski Canvas OG and Blazer Low GT. Celebrating cultural identity, sporting heritage and skate-specific function in its rawest form, this exclusive collaboration pairs Nike’s on-going appreciation for timeless Japanese legacy with bold aesthetics.
Founded in 2005 by former Japanese footballer player turned humble fashion designer Atsuhiko Mori and ever-inspired by the realms of music, film, art and cultural oddities, Wacko Maria effortlessly epitomises its downtown Tokyo locale through its playful persona and its fast-paced ode to modernity. Expressive prints and quips toward authentic identity help honour the brand’s ‘one cannot create beautiful things nor lead a beautiful life without love, dreams and passion’ ethos, whilst their international stature delivers sought-after appeal right to the core of contemporary street and lifestyle fashion. Having collaborated with the likes of Vans, for their mythical folklore-inspired Authentic series, and with both Taiwanese boutique INVINCIBLE and Converse in late 2019 for their similarly-styled safari and camo-themed Chuck Taylor ‘70s collection, Wacko Maria is no stranger to the boisterous-print game. Honing in on perfecting their ‘romance and glamour’ vibe, Wacko Maria taps into skateboarding’s avant garde aura and Nike SB’s nonchalant persona to deliver something truly unrivalled and all-together skilful.
Yet another creative re-write of Stefan Janoski’s transcendent signature silhouette, the Nike SB x Wacko Maria Janoski OG sneakers favour canvas over the usual brushed-suede upper for a lighter sense of wear, whilst the striking leopard-print finishings pays homage to similar styles debuted across the Dunk Low Safari profile and 2019’s Nike Air Max 1 ‘Leopard’. Merging character with performance, the profile remains loyal to its ‘OG’ namesake with its pre-built Zoom Air unit, its cushioned co-branded sockliner and its grippy gum-rubber outsole. Twin tone foxings fuse the midsole to the outsole for increased resilience, whilst the debossed ‘Wacko Maria’ branding across the usually smooth outsole side-wall helps personify the label’s out-the-box character once more. Neatly embroidered black-stitch Swooshes merge neatly to honour the sleekend aesthetic associated with its big-cat muse, whilst the interchangeable flat-cotton laces adhere to Nike SB’s passion for celebrated ‘create your own style’ ethos. The classic ‘Nike SB Janoski’ tongue patch branding remains loyal to its original form, whilst white-stitch embroidered Kanji characters spell ‘Paradise’ and ‘Tokyo’ split across both the left and right heel for a cultural-minded sign off that honours the label’s heritage and its ode to ethereal influence.
Joining fellow team-rider Janoski, 2011 Thrasher Magazine ‘Skater of the Year’ Grant Taylor’s much-loved Blazer Low GT profile welcomes a refined jungle-themed reimagining through the Nike SB x Wacko Maria Blazer Low GT QS release. Mirrored by similar snakeskin adaptations, such as the aptly named Nike Air Force 1 Lows and the rehashed reptilian Nike SB Dunk Lows from 2013, these QuickStrike Blazer Lows remain loyal to their basketball roots through their continued use of Nike’s Zoom Air unit and the brand’s legendary impact-reducing cushioned sockliner. Plush calf-suede creates a textual finish against its faux-snakeskin leatherette Swooshes, whilst the reinforced rubber toe-box overlays and the colour-matched bold black bartack stitchings ensure structural integrity to suit any demanding street or skate setting. The streamlined 8-eyelet lacing system secures the OG ‘Nike SB Blazer Low’ brand tab across the arch of the foot, whilst the black-on-white full-grain leather backtab is signed off with bold ‘Nike’ debossed branding that complements the hand-stitched Kanji character ‘Paradise’ and ‘Tokyo’ spelt detailings across each individual shoe.
With 2020 being the year Nike SB turns its attention to Japanese culture, as honoured by their Tokyo Rawthentic collection, designed in conjunction with the now-postponed 2020 Olympic Games, their admirable Sashiko pack, their manga-inspired Dunk High Pro Orange Label release and their recent collaboration with independent Japanese retailer Instant Skateboards, the brand continues to pair visionary character with their preserved appreciation for premium boardfeel, traction and step-by-step definition.
The Nike SB x Wacko Maria collection will be available online at Flatspot on Wednesday 4th November 2020 at 08:00AM (GMT).
Shop all Nike SB at Flatspot.
