In 1983, Reebok released its Classic Leather sneakers. These were simple running shoes designed as a counterweight to the more technical models on the market at the time. Two years later, Reebok dropped the Club C, another original made with simplicity in mind. Although subtle, the leather uppers and heel cups of the Club C add a premium touch to the attractive yet simple look of the shoe. These clean, versatile designs became brand staples and served as the building blocks for the next generation of iconic Reebok silhouettes, like the Instapump Fury (1994), Question (1996) and Zig 3D Storm (2020). ).
Today, Reebok revisits its past, reinventing these five beloved sneakers through the eyes of deconstructionist fashion brand Maison Margiela. The result is Maison Margiela x Reebok new Memory of collection. Available in tone-on-tone black or tone-on-tone white, the Memory of the sneakers distill each brand’s aesthetic to its respective essence, combining a traditional sporty style with deconstructed elements and patterns that are the foundations of the Maison Margiela ethos.
the Memory of Classic Leather is a true Margiela remix, with white-on-white stitching replacing the shoe’s traditional side stripe, as well as deconstructed elements on the heel and tongue.
The Club C is a remarkable piece of the Mmemory of collection. According to Reebok shoe designer Evan Belforti, the reworked Maison Margiela Club C exemplifies the collaborative design process, which included “defining the boundaries of each shoe and exploring as much as possible within those boundaries”, a perspective which is visible in the shoe’s shelled heels and eyelets.
According to Reebok, the purpose of the Memory of collection is to help consumers relive their most famous or happy memories. “These five shoes span decades, each representing a moment in Reebok history,” Belforti says. They can in turn trace his own personal history. The Instapump Fury nods to innovative mid-’90s styling, updated here with exposed lining on the toe box.
The Allen Iverson signature Question model is a fan-favorite Reebok basketball shoe. Here, it’s remixed with exposed foam throughout the upper, as well as a peeled-off heel tab, updates that Belforti says evoke “the energy brought by Allen Iverson.”
An outlier in a collection of retro designs, Belforti notes the Zig 3D Storm is a modern, fashion silhouette that has been key to the Memory of collection because it adds hints of modern technology and style to this particular capsule. True to Margiela’s design perspective, this version of the Zig 3D Storm houses a peeled-back Reebok vector, as well as exposed stitching, creating a wearable, yet visually striking take on contemporary performance footwear.
With two shoes already on the market and three more on the way, you can now upgrade your wardrobe by visiting Maison Margiela x Reebok Memory of collect here.