EXCLUSIVE: Kizik Updates Its Best-Selling Athens Sneaker in New Release
Kizik newest shoe is here.
According to the hands-free footwear company, it has introduced the Athens 2 sneaker, a reimagined version of its best-selling Athens shoe.
The company noted in a press release that the shoe was “built on the success of the original” and was developed based on customer feedback and its continued advancements in footwear innovation.
Compared to the original, the Athens 2 features significant upgrades, including a 4mm deeper inset into the midsole for a more stable and locked-in feel, an engineered mesh upper, increased rubber coverage on the outsole for improved traction, and a new heel stabilizer for added support, the company noted.
The shoe also incorporates lighter, bouncier high-rebound foam to propel wearers forward with every step. Its refreshed design highlights the iconic Kizik “cage” technology, with faster-looking lines and a range of vibrant performance-inspired colors, as well as versatile, everyday hues.
Since its launch in Aug. 2021, the company noted that the Athens model has remained Kizik’s number-one selling shoe, with one sold every three minutes in 2024.
“The launch of the Athens 2 marks a significant milestone for Kizik as we continue to innovate and redefine what hands-free footwear can achieve,” Andreas Harlow, who joined the company in November from Nike as senior vice president of design of Kizik, told FN. “With this updated version, we’ve taken everything our customers loved about the original Athens and elevated it to meet the needs of our active and simultaneously style-conscious wearers.”
Harlow continued: “The Athens 2 represents our commitment to constant improvement and listening to our community, delivering a shoe that combines support, comfort, and our signature hands-free design in ways that truly move people forward.”
The November arrival of Harlow came just months after the brand hired Elizabeth Drori as its new chief marketing officer. Drori joined Kizik in July from Sperry, where she served as global chief marketing officer and general manager of the Sperry e-commerce business since 2020.
These new hires come in the midst of the brand’s efforts to double down on its retail strategy. Over the last several months, Kizik has opened new stores across the U.S.
In an exclusive interview with FN in May, Kizik chief executive officer Monte Deere said he plans to have a total of six stores by the end of 2024 with new openings on Newbury Street in Boston, New Jersey and Denver slated for later this year. “In 2025, we have several more in the pipeline,” the CEO said. “We’re looking hard at Washington, D.C., Nashville, Seattle and Portland for new openings next year.”
All told, Deere said he plans to have a total of 15 stores by the end of next year.