Saucony's Grid Azura 2000 Is the Definition of Retro-Futurism
Brand: Saucony
Model: Grid Azura 2000
Release Date: Available Now
Price: $150
Buy: Highsnobiety Shop
Editors Notes: The start of a millennium brings with it a lot of debate surrounding how humanity will look over the next 1000 years. Will there be flying cars? Time travel? Will robots have taken over? And, of course, what will my sneakers look like?
Saucony weighed in on the latter when it released the Grid Azura 2000, a sneaker that at the time was made for the new millennium.
The original Azura model was released as a racing bike sneaker featuring the latest in technical innovation, its advertising claiming it was "dedicated to people tired of hype and hot air." The shoe's Torsional Rigidity Bar carved from heat-resistant Kevlar proved to be a hit and by 2000 it was time for an aesthetic upgrade.
To welcome the 21st century, the new Grid Azura 2000 looked like the original shoe, but on an acid trip.
A squiggly pattern added to the upper was the biggest change that it went through and remains the shoe's standout feature. Although it was made to look futuristic at the time, today it creates a distinctive retro look.
Further detailing on the shoe includes mono mesh, bold toothy overlays, and thick cushioning which all add to the nostalgia.
The return of Floatie flip-flops, ridiculously baggy jeans, and a KFC baguette bag are all constant reminders that the current Y2K obsession knows no limits, and our appreciation for all things from the late 90s/early 2000s is surely fueling the resurgence of the Grid Azura 2000.
Available in bold new colorways on the Highsnobiety Shop, they arrive alongside hi-tech runners and more casual silhouettes inspired by Saucony's large archive.
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