Body of Work to Release Second Sneaker With San Antonio Shoemakers at Tokyo Pop-Up This Weekend
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Following the success of their first collaborative effort in November, emerging Canadian-made sportswear label Body of Work and Texas-based San Antonio Shoemakers (SAS) have come together once again for their second shoe.
For this new project, Body of Work updates SAS’ JV Mesh silhouette, a walking shoe featuring two velcro straps and a sleek profile inspired by cycling footwear and vintage sportswear design. Touched by approximately 80 artisans, the shoes feature accents of Italian nubuck, full grain leather, USA-made textiles and best-in-class technology providing comfort and support.
Inspired by retreats to the city park the Body of Work x SAS JV Mesh sneaker is handcrafted in the USA and comes men’s and women’s sizes and will be offered in two colorways drawing from the Canadian brand’s signature nature-derived palette – Ink Black/Black, a waxed nubuck leather and Cove Blue/Black, a dusty navy blue nubuck leather.
For Dwayne Vatcher, who cofounded Body of Work with Brittney MacKinnon in 2020, the new sneaker is a perfect complement to the brand’s existing apparel mix. “Our purpose, and what drives what we do, is bringing an aesthetic approach to active living,” Vatcher told FN in an interview. “This silhouette aligns well with what we do as it is both beautiful and functional, perfect for leisurely activity.”
And while the Body of Work team is excited about the launch, so too, is the SAS team. “As a brand that has proudly crafted footwear in the U.S. for nearly 50 years, we are thrilled to partner again with Body of Work for this exciting new release,” Nancy Richardson, chief executive officer of SAS, added. “This collaboration celebrates our shared values of meticulous artisanship and attention to detail, while also bringing fresh, modern design perspectives to our heritage of shoemaking.”
MacKinnon shares the same sentiment. “It has been a pleasure to work on a new silhouette with SAS following the welcome reception that our first project received,” MacKinnon said. “We are both makers dedicated to sourcing the finest materials and working with artisans who have honed their craft over generations.”
For the new silhouette’s launch, Vatcher and MacKinnon will be traveling to Japan for its official debut. The duo will be hosting a pop-up this weekend at the Float studio and art gallery in Tokyo. Located at 3-1-9 Meguro Honcho, Meguro-ku in the Japanese capital city, this marks Body of Work’s first Tokyo pop-up and will run Sept. 21 through Sept. 23. The shoe, which will retail for $255, will have a larger global release on Sept. 21, Vatcher confirmed.
Tokyo takes centerstage in the new shoe’s campaign as well. Shot by Ian Lanterman in Yoyogi Park and the surrounding neighborhoods in Tokyo, the setting serves as the perfect backdrop for the collaboration – highlighting the footwear and garments that balance beauty and ease of wear.
“Japan is a pretty important market for us,” MacKinnon told FN. “Ever since we started, the Japanese were the first to talk about Body of Work and we have a lot of direct customers who purchased from us there. Plus, Japan has very forward-thinking customers, and we wanted to bring this new shoe to them first. We look forward to connecting over this project with them in person.”
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