In case you’ve been living under a rock for the past few years, we have a newsflash for you: 1990s-inspired trainers are practically everywhere you look. From the wardrobes of young creatives to celebrities alike, a chunky sneaker is a 2020 footwear must-have. And now, courtesy of Lacoste – a brand that has long been adopted by countless youth culture movements in London and beyond – there’s a new style in town.
Based on one of Lacoste’s famous designs that was first introduced in 1996, the Storm 96 archive re-edition embraces the brand’s heritage, with the return of the original ‘Lacoste Sport’ woven label and its trademark crocodile logo. Featuring a thick rubber sole, and a retro-running inspired aesthetic, the shoe is reminiscent of an era of nylon windbreakers and primary colour-blocked clothing.
As a dedication to the ‘elegantly bold’, the new trainer aims to represent an entire generation of contemporary cultural innovators who use their individual style as a means of self-expression. The reinvention of an old-style also acts as a tribute to youth’s ability to use their past to create their own interpretations of sub-cultures today.
In a short film and series of images, shot by Dazed contributor Yu Fujiwara and styled by Dazed’s Deputy Fashion Editor Chloe Grace Press, the trainers are shown in many different colourways as they are modelled on the streets of London. The variations of the Storm 96 include a muted, pastel edition, alongside styles in red, white, grey, and black, meaning that there really is something for everyone.
Watch the film below, check out the images in the gallery above, and see more of the Storm 96 sneaker here.
