Sneaker Alert!  For this week’s New York Fashion Week: Men’s, the CFDA has partnered with Reebok. And as part of our continued support of emerging talent, we jointly selected and identified five emerging talents to bring their creative vision to the brand’s most iconic sneakers  for Fall-Winter 2020. The reimagined sneakers include the Club C, Classic Nylon and Classic Leather, as well as the new Zig Kinetica.

“Our continued partnership with the CFDA enables us to discover, grow and empower the next generation of American designers,” said Karen Reuther, Reebok VP Creative Direction & Future. “Through industry exposure, close mentorships and unparalleled experience in design, our goal is to support these promising designers with a foundation that will propel them onto the next stage of their creative journeys.”

In celebration of the 2020 partnership, Reebok and the CFDA host an immersive New York Fashion Week experience that highlights each designer’s shoe along with sketches, swatches and mood boards. The designers’ shoes will be featured at their  presentations this week.

“Reebok’s continued support and mentorship provides emerging talents with the opportunity to develop their brands in new and modern ways,” said Mark Beckham, CFDA’s Vice President of Marketing and Events.  “Access to Reebok’s global expertise gives these small, entrepreneurial designers valuable tools to take their businesses to the next level.”

Ahead of the upcoming presentations, get a sneak preview of what’s to come from our emerging talent during this week:

Kee Kim, Keenkee

“I grew up with a nostalgic view about the future because of sci-fi novels, TV shows, and films. How they depicted the future was very fascinating. I was thinking I can apply some of these nostalgic ideas in the clothes. They look like you are wearing light, or reflecting a light source. I thought about the shape and silhouettes of the male as well – trying to make them less masculine, but more relaxed.

Neil Grotzinger, NIHL

“For Reebok I really wanted the shoe that I designed to look like there was something growing on the surface of it. Some of the inspiration I was pulling from were drag like characters in Disney films like Ursula or Maleficent. I wanted to transfer that energy into the sort of embellishment I was adding into the shoe. I wanted to make it look very glamorous, but also sinister at the same time. As if these strange tentacles were growing out from inside of the shoe. It was an offset of the original idea to make something like beautiful and sinister at the same time.”

Peter Jurado & Al Verik, PAA 

I’ve always been a big fan of Reebok. They have a lot of classic styles we personally have worn and we really like, whether it’s the Club C or a classic style. They have great tennis shoes, walking shoes. They’ve just been doing their thing forever and it’s a great company.

Kenneth Nicholson

“Reebok is a brand that continues to stand the test of time which is something that I forge to achieve with my own label. The brand’s take on design is both classic and timeless as well as modern and innovative. Reebok’s core principles in this way mirror my own as I utilize historical references paired with traditional garment making while applying inventive application.”

Victor Li

“Reebok Classic C is a shoe for every look. We literally paired it with everything. They are so classic and easy and can go with every single look. That’s why we loved it.”

New York Fashion Week: Men’s was made possible with the generous support of Reebok.