This season’s standout street style: HOKA teams up with South Korean brand XLIM for the first time, dressing its classic sneakers in stunning charcoal black and peach pink
Blending fashion and outdoor DNA, this brand-new trail running shoe is definitely a must-have, versatile pick for the season😍
Every day before heading out, we can find ourselves hesitating in front of the shoe rack. That’s when a pair of sneakers that balances comfort and style comes to the rescue. As the gorpcore trend has swept the streets in recent years, incorporating performance gear into everyday outfits has become an unspoken understanding among stylish women. Recently, HOKA shared exciting news: for the first time, it has teamed up with emerging South Korean brand XLIM to give a classic shoe style an artful new look.
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Some readers may not be familiar with XLIM, HOKA’s collaborator this time around. Based in Seoul, South Korea, the brand is made up of creatives working across fashion, architecture, and art. It excels at turning details from nature and everyday life into a distinctive clothing design language. Its collaboration with HOKA brings its signature postmodern fashion aesthetic to the functional silhouette of a trail running shoe, creating a distinct character that sits somewhere between the street and the outdoors.
What inspired the design of the Mafate Speed 2 collaboration?
For this collaboration, the two brands chose HOKA’s classic Mafate Speed 2 trail running shoe as the focal point. The design team observed how materials in nature evolve over time, capturing the tension created when organic elements meet man-made structures. The upper features a rich mix of materials that gives it a distinctive sense of age. Understated yet full of detail, the treatment adds a more delicate visual dimension to the rugged trail running shoe, enhancing both its texture and everyday wearability.
Release dates and pricing details for the three collaboration colorways
This collaboration is priced at HK$ 1,499 / NT$ 6,200 and comes in three beautiful colorways, with carefully scheduled release dates. Black Charcoal, the first release, launched across the Asia-Pacific region on April 24; its understated black-and-gray palette is easy to style. On May 15, Grey Foam and the softly toned Peach Dust will also be released worldwide. If you’re interested, keep an eye on the brand’s official website and select retailers for updates.
Are trail running shoes easy to style for everyday outfits?
The Mafate Speed 2 is already a familiar sight in many fashion-forward shoe collections, and XLIM’s artistic vision makes it even more wearable. Its thick sole offers excellent cushioning and support while subtly making your legs look longer. Pair it with loose parachute pants or washed jeans for an easy, stylish streetwear look. The Peach Dust colorway is especially recommended: it adds a soft touch to neutral outfits and is a sneaker worth investing in this season.
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