Nike VaporWaffle x sacai

This Nike VaporWaffle x sacai collaborative sneaker is a captivating combination of two earlier silhouettes that have been blended together to create an eye-catching Villain Red & Neptune Green design. As its name suggests, it rests upon a traditional waffle outsole, here in black, with a series of quadrilateral-shaped grip pads and a ridged section on the heel. All of this comes together to provide excellent traction to the wearer, before the midsole delivers high levels of comfort. It does so via two stacked layers of white foam that have been divided through the heel with a cream-coloured wedge. The top layer curls upwards, giving the heel a unique aesthetic. Then, a thick band of Villain Red tops the midsole on the lateral forefoot.

Meanwhile, an off-white mesh forms the base layer of the upper, allowing heaps of breathability where it appears on the flanks and forefoot. The rich tone of Villain Red then returns on the suede forefoot mudguard and the leather heel counter, whose glossy surface leads to the colour taking on an even deeper tinge of red. Small holes have been cut into each side of this last overlay to reveal the mesh layer beneath, while a Villain Red textile pull tab runs up the centre of the heel, a tiny black swoosh adorning it. A black leather heel panel lies behind this, its surface accented with a Neptune Green Nike sacai logo.

Over the top of the foot, Neptune Green also decorates the suede eyestay, which has two pairs of laces threading through it, one in the same bold shade of turquoise, the other black. These tie up over a white mesh tongue, which itself overlays a second tongue. This one is made of tan canvas and has a label similar to that of the primary tongue, but with slightly different text woven through it. Its branding incorporates a black Nike logo with the word “sacai” added to it, while the one on the other tongue displays a Nike Sportswear emblem, once again in black.

Off-white mesh fills out the inner walls, which surround a black insole with the Nike x sacai logo printed onto it in Neptune Green, just like the one on the heel, only much bigger. Back on the outer, Villain Red shapes emerge from beneath the edges of the eyestay for another eccentric design detail, and narrow leather swooshes reach down the flanks. Both are made of black leather, but the lateral one has a line of pale blue across its lower edge. This lighter colouration is actually the upper part of a larger swoosh which appears to have been spray painted over the lateral flank. As well as touching the black swoosh, it also lands on the mesh underlayer, the suede mudguard and even the midsole, adding a contrasting splash of colour to round out this dynamic sneaker.