In recent weeks, Reebok has announced a number of new footwear collaborations and innovations.
Last week, the footwear giant officially confirmed that it would be re-releasing a 20th anniversary version of Allen Iverson’s Answer IV “Stepover” sneaker on June 4. Available through Reebok.com and at select retailers for $130, the shoe, which was originally developed to honor the basketball legend’s 2000-2001 season, will bear the same black-and-white motifs that prompted its sellout two decades ago.
Key elements like DMX midsole cushioning—a technology made up of interlinked chambers that swell and empty of air with the wearer’s stride—will continue with the re-release, Reebok said. The shoe’s name, the Stepover, is a nod to a moment in Game One of the 2000 title matchup when Iverson outfoxed an opponent with his dribbling skills, causing him to fall to the ground. The point guard then stepped over the player as he took off up the court.
“Answer IV is the crown jewel of Iverson’s journey and the cultural shift he helped to lead,” veteran Reebok footwear designer Xavier Jones said upon the previous re-release of the vintage-inspired style earlier this year. “By his ’00-’01 season, ‘Chuck’ was already so beloved for his style and how he approached the game, but that year truly cemented A.I. as a cultural icon,” he added, calling the Answer IV “one of the most iconic sneakers to ever grace the hardwood.”
The shoe also features a faded gradient “13” logo on the tongue, a zipper shrouded lacing system, a black-and-white leather upper and tactical tread pattern on the outsole.
For sneaker lovers more attuned to high fashion than basketball, Reebok is doubling down on its ongoing collaborative partnership with French luxury fashion house Maison Margiela.
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On Friday, the two labels debuted new color ways of the split-toe Classic Leather Tabi and Club C Maison Margiela, both designed by creative head John Galliano. The Tabi, which debuted in January, is now available in grey and red, following a release in April of the style in “bianchetto,” a white truffle-inspired coating that chips away with wear. The distinctive Tabi style, characterized by its unorthodox toe box, was first introduced to the Maison Margiela line 33 years ago.
The Club C, a Reebok staple since 1985, has been released in red alone. According to the brand, the Maison Margiela version is constructed using just one piece of flat leather, and the sneaker’s upper features a printed and scanned image of Reebok’s original silhouette for a trompe l’oeil effect.
The new color ways are available on Reebok and Maison Margiela’s e-commerce sites, as well as select Maison Margiela stores, for $300.
Meanwhile, just weeks ahead of Pride Month, the footwear giant debuted its annual All Types of Love Pride collection, designed by Reebok’s LGBTQIA+ employee group, Colorful Souls. The internal collective partnered with House of Ninja ballroom on the collection, concurrently releasing a film to launch the campaign called “Fierceness Isn’t Born. It’s Made.”
The piece features the House’s iconic performers, and seeks to exalt the fashion, music, trends and advocacy efforts inherent to ballroom culture. House of Ninja was created in 1982 by Willi Ninja, known as the “Godfather of Vogue,” and was known to be a safe space for members of the LGBTQIA+ community. The House is currently featured on HBO’s Legendary, an American voguing reality competition.
According to Reebok, the collection, which is available now on its website, was inspired by the rainbow motif of the Pride flag. The line features new versions of the Classic Leather, Club C, InstaPump Fury OG, Zig Kinetica II, Nano X1, and Floatride Energy 3.0, ranging from $85-$170. Complementary apparel including a cropped workout tank, an oversized tee with a UV color-changing ink, biker shorts and a hoodie will be available from $35-$55. And as a part of its mission to promote inclusivity, Reebok has extended the size range to youth. In addition to the adult styles, the line also includes a unisex kids Pride Classic Leather for children and infants.
The All Types of Love campaign will also have a charitable component, Reebok said. The brand plans to donate $75,000 to the Sylvia Rivera Law Project in honor of transgender, gender nonconforming, and intersex youth. The New York-based group works to guarantee that underserved individuals are free to express their gender identity without facing harassment or discrimination.
For true running enthusiasts, Reebok has added a bright cerulean “Pure Blue” color way to its Premier Road Modern running shoe collection, following the release of a silver version that dropped in March. Reebok’s Premier Running line, which was founded in 2005, draws inspiration from brightly colored trail sneakers but leans into a monochromatic aesthetic. The shoe’s contemporary silhouette, which is both substantive and streamlined, also elevates the style aesthetically, Reebok said. The Pure Blue Premier Road Modern is available from stateside and international retailers like Bodega and Packer in the U.S. as well as Sneakersnstuff across Europe for $200, it added.