Designer Mark Wilkins is celebrating the one year anniversary of his independent brand ZN Footwear by releasing four new colorways of the Prototype 1.
Last year, Zn Footwear (pronounced zen) came onto the scene with a much different mission than most luxury sneaker brands: set prices below $200, offer truly premium materials, and give back to those less fortunate.
Now, the brand is celebrating with two models, the ZN Footwear Prototype 1 LUX and the Prototype 1 NE. The Prototype 1 LUX will come in ‘Blood Ornage’ with a full lambskin leather upper that is accented by cowhide suede. It will retail for $180 and be stocked in sizes 5-14.
Additionally, the Prototype NE will retail for $100 and will drop in Chili/Black/White, Moon/Black/White, and Dark Ocean/Black/White with a pig leather built that is accented by engineered mesh and felt. Sizes 6 to 14 will be stocked.
A Chicago native raised in Country Club Hills, Mark Wilkins started his brand from the ground up — and that isn’t easy. After college, he travelled to China to play basketball. It was there that his sneaker ideas began to blossom.
The brand, Zn Footwear, is inspired by the Chinese word zen, a state of enlightenment, happiness, and self-fulfillment we can all achieve. However, some need help achieving that state, and Wilkins has made giving back a central tenet of his brand. For every 25 pairs of sneakers sold, 5 pairs will be given back to individuals or families that can’t afford new sneakers; a percentage of sales will also be used to fund inner city students’ post high school education.
The celebratory ZN Footwear Prototype 1 builds will release on the brand’s one year anniversary, September 21, at 8 AM ET on ZnFootwear.com. All four styles are quite limited so pick your up while you can.
Source: Zn Footwear
