Award-winning designer Isamu Jarman teams up with We Are Underdogs to release the SW-02.
According to the designer, the SW-02 was originally designed for Pensole’s WSC 2018. The assignment was to design a lifestyle shoe for a stylish 20-year-old.
Inspiration for the model came from looking back at the 90s iconic sneaker silhouettes and his personal experience while living in Portland over the last five years. Three key points of focus were: Timeless, Focused, and Craftsmanship, all of which we can see within his design.
The lines and curves draw inspiration from Portland’s architecture and bridges while the strap in the back doubles up as a pull tab. While the upper is primarily suede and performance textiles, it’s ultimately a homage to Air Jordan 1’s, Air Max 90’s, Triple S, Yeezy 700 & 750, and EQT 93/17.
Materials include three different colors of premium Italian suede, a breathable mesh tongue and sock, leather lined comfort footbed and a real rubber cup sole paying tribute to one of my favorite sneakers of all-time — the Air Jordan 4.
Its intricate design and craftsmanship details, such as the rolled and folded edges, brogue perforation with 3M reflective underlays, are details usually only seen in high-end designer sneakers with obnoxious price tags. However, this model, made with greater care and precision, will retail for $189.
That’s a great price for the materials, quality and hand-made craftsmanship. Interestingly, they are currently listed at $151.20 for those that pre-order a pair.
If you like what you see, the SW-02 is available now for pre-order until February 22 at WeAreUnderdogs.com. Both women’s and men’s sizes will be available while men’s sizing will go up to a size 14.5, which is uncommon for independent brands.
Let us know what you think of the We Are Underdogs SW-02 designed by Isamu Jarman and stay tuned for updates here at WearTesters.com.
