Balenciaga and Under Armour Are Making Wild Sneakers Together
The reveal of a Balenciaga x Under Armour collaboration during the former’s May 30 show in Shanghai took the fashion-focused side of the Internet by storm, but it turns out there’s even more from the collection than originally expected.
After making available Thursday co-branded $1,450 zip-up hoodies, $795 T-shirts, and $150 tennis socks (among other items), more soon-to-be-released product has surfaced on social media including new footwear models.
Shared by Balenciaga insider @myfacewheno_o on Instagram, one model plays on the Spanish fashion house’s exaggeratedly chunky 3XL sneaker, replacing the usual synthetic upper paneling with what appears to be a knitted or engineered mesh construction. Previewed in white and black styles, the 3XL’s standard extended sole remains the same, and the shoe also maintains the two-tone laces seen on normal Balenciaga iterations.
Along with the new takes on the 3XL came two colorways of an unnamed model. The ribbed, high-top knit shoes are reminiscent of Under Armour’s Highlight 2 football cleats and also bear a resemblance to Balenciaga’s popular Speed Runner sneakers.
In addition to the newly seen footwear, other Balenciaga x Under Armour goods expected to launch at a later date include a pair of silver hoop earrings in the shape of the “UA” logo and a zip-up hoodie fashioned as a tote bag.
While Under Armour is largely seen as a sportswear brand, this isn’t its first foray onto the runway. In 2016, the brand tapped fashion designer Tim Coppens to launch Under Armour Sportswear (UAS), although the line was quietly phased out after a few years. There has recently been pressure on founder and reappointed CEO Kevin Plank to turn the company around, and in the brand’s fourth quarter earnings announcement, Plank said it would look to establish itself as a “premium brand” in North America.
All of the Balenciaga x Under Armour footwear pictured here is set to release Spring 2025. Retail pricing has not yet been confirmed, but the non-collaborative Balenciaga 3XL sneaker is priced at $1,190.