Highsnobiety took a trip down south to Atlanta to catch a first glimpse of Balmain’s bold leap into its latest collab with custom sneaker artist Ant Kai, who used a heavenly cloud nine motif on a limited set of just 150 pairs. The partnership builds upon the success of the iconic Balmain Unicorn sneakers, infusing the rarified silhouette and lighter-than-air build of the Unicorn with hand-crafted detailing.
The Balmain Unicorn sneakers have long been a symbol of luxury and style, known for their distinctive construction, intricate detailing, and aerodynamic soles that provide an extra eight centimeters of height. Balmain's commitment to pushing boundaries is evident as they tap into the talents of artist Ant Kai, celebrated for his unique approach to designing custom sneakers using a blend of traditional and modern techniques.
Ant Kai, the Seattle-based creative, brings a fresh perspective to sneaker design, drawing inspiration from nature, traditional Japanese methods, and more. His self-taught, full-time artistic journey has gained recognition from notable figures such as Michael B. Jordan, Daniel Arsham, Chloe Grace Moretz, and many others.
Breaking new ground in the digital realm, each pair of the Balmain x Ant Kai Unicorn sneakers comes with an accompanying NFT, developed in collaboration with tech company Space Runners. This NFT not only adds a digital dimension to the physical sneakers but also allows owners to customize it with personal AI-generated designs based on Ant Kai's artworks.
The official launch of this groundbreaking collaboration took place at an exclusive event hosted at Balmain’s Atlanta boutique, bringing together folk from both the fashion, music, and sneaker communities including Sally Sneakers and Siena Liggins. Sky Jetta DJ’d, giving the crowd everything they asked for. The energy at the event was sky-high, and things amped up further when music producer Sonny Digital made a surprise appearance, sending the crowd crazy.
The sneakers drop on the Balmain website on December 6—these shoes are as rare as a unicorn so don't waste any time getting your pair.
