Just when you thought we had done it all with Saucony, we stripped it all away and got back to essence of our partnership, building our Grid Shadow 2 ‘Jaunt Woven’ from the Earth up.
Going into this project with the stage - and expectations - set by a long lineage of collaborations together, the stress and pressure to deliver were front of mind, two variables that don't necessarily aid in footwear design. In other words, it was time to mellow out.
And when it comes to taking chill pills and other various types of pills, who does it better than the new-age hippie? Not necessarily the worshippers of Cornell 5/8/77 and enjoyers of hitchhiking but their tie-dye loving, shell necklace wearing, incense burning offspring who might slack in the classroom but kill it on the slackline out in the quad. And then it clicked.
Like a weed leaf bat signal piercing the skyline, our take on the late 90s classic starts with an all-natural upper serving as a crash course on the power of texture. Primarily made from woven hemp and featuring natural hues, the sneaker owes its definition to the contrasting weaves. From the loose gauge weave used on the toe and mid-foot to the cellular overlays and plain-woven tongue, the subtle distinctions in grain became the perfect focal point. Supported by tightly woven cotton underlays in Douglas Fir green and a speckled 18 oz Canvas trim given a Stonewashed treatment, you get the hacky sack - drug rug - bonfire combo without going green in the gills.
Wandering down past the upper, our Grid Shadow 2 brings the receipts with a recycled gum rubber outsole which counts its speckled appearance as most excellent bi-product of an environmentally friendly design. And with a recycled mesh tongue, collar liner, AND brushed nylex footbed cover, your consciousness is going to feel just as comfy as your feet. Holding the midsole together is the model’s signature molded EVA cushioning, staying faithful to the original sneaker’s motion-filled design. Right on.
Release Info: Friday, February 23, 2024
Available online at 12pm EST and in-store at both our Boston and Los Angeles locations on a first come, first served basis.
