KEEN x 18 EAST = The GOAT of footwear collabs

Whilst there have been some exceptional collaborative versions of the feted KEEN Jasper Zionic, it feels fair to say that the about to drop 18 East version is the GOAT, in both an acronymical as well as a literal sense. Dropping later this week this special version of the beloved hybridised approach shoe combines KEEN’s outdoor utility aesthetic with 18 East’s textured, hand-touched approach to design via its use of reflective embroidery, elevated material choices and refined, neutral colour palettes. The premium suede ‘Jasper Zionic 18 East’ also features an oversized heel pull to perfectly highlight the 18 East logo, with our mate and 18 East head honcho Antonio Ciongoli further expanding on the design decisions with the following words: “My favorite thing about the KEEN Jasper Zionic is its versatility. It looks as equally at home hiking Vermont’s Long Trail as it does while grabbing coffee near our New York studio on Elizabeth Street. We leaned into this for our iteration, choosing ballistic nylon and soft suede for the upper. We chose to embroider the nylon with a traditional Rajasthani all-over stitch pattern, in reflective, 3M thread. We loved that an homage to slow, Eastern craft techniques could increase visibility and functionality in both outdoor and urban environments. Updating the toe paneling with suede to give the appearance of a T-Toe construction is a nice subtle touch as well.” As someone who has had a pair of Jasper Zionics as part of their year round footwear rotation for at least the past five years, this elite new iteration made with one of the coolest clothing brands on the planets has ensured that I’ll be wearing these versatile beauties for the foreseeable future too.