Story MFG. has previously made great sneaker collaborations. But Story MFG.’s newest collection offers great sneaker collaborations galore.
The label teased a host of new sneaker link-ups as part of its SS25 collection (there’ll be more on those later) and the first of the bunch is set to release in the coming days: Story MFG. x ROA.
Taking on ROA’s Katharina Shoe, a rugged sneaker made for the great outdoors, Story MFG. provided the sneaker with handmade touches typical of the brand.
Contrasting the rubberized protective material on the Katharina, a hand-loomed cotton fabric made with a naturally dyed indigo yarn emerges on the upper of the shoe.
If I’m being slightly facetious, the checkered material looks a lot like the brand has added a picnic blanket to ROA’s sneaker. That isn’t a diss though, the material’s rustic qualities surprisingly suit the technical footwear model.
The official line from Story MFG. is that the statement-making pattern is inspired by one used by rural farmers in both France and Japan. It is also, in keeping with the brand’s eco-conscious beliefs, made from organic cotton.
Adding to the cottage-core theme, the shoes also arrive in a special shoe box with recycled paper straw padding. Plus, a poem card by Khalil Gibran joins the shoes in the box.
The first of the collaborations promised by Story MFG’s SS25 fashion show (there are checker-print shoes with ASICS and Suicoke still to come) the Story MFG x ROA collaboration releases on August 8 retailing for $436.
The release also includes a matching, collaborative vest made from cotton fabric handwoven with yarn dyed in India.
Getting one big sneaker collaboration is a cause for celebration for any brand. To get three big sneaker collaborations in one season is a sign of Story MFG.’s success — you know you’re doing something right when other brands want to work with you.