Here's What Went Down at Paris Fashion Week Men's AW23

[Celerity]

Mon Dieu! The ’fits in Paris were colder than winter in the City of Love this week. From futuristic, 3D-printed models by Reebok, RAINS and Dior to collaborative chaos from ASICS, sacai and Junya Watanabe, there was plenty of teeth-chattering footwear for sneakerheads to get around. Chitose Abe dusted off the Nike Footscape (hooray!), while AURALEE and Bricks & Wood both nailed their latest New Balance collaborations. Of course, there was also much, much more.

Now that the dust has finally settled, it’s time to recap one of the wildest fashion weeks in recent years.

ALLONS-Y

https://www.sneakerfreaker.com/features/heres-what-went-down-at-paris-fashion-week-mens-aw23



3D Printing







Behold, sneakerheads: the future! 3D-printed footwear continues to gain traction in the sneaker industry, and the machines have been whirring over time in Paris. Utilised by Kim Jones and Dior, the Parisian imprint used the tech to drive their ‘Carlo’ designs into the future, with the dress shoes the best example yet of Dior’s desire to bring 3D-printed shoes to the commercial market. Installing a quicklace system above glossy black leather tongues, the intricate, 3D-printed weave incorporates subtle Dior branding at the heels and underfoot. Currently, we’ve only seen a matte black finish for the shoe (the white pair pictured was simply part of the design process).

Elsewhere, Denmark’s RAINS tapped industry leaders Zellerfeld to produce their very first iteration – the aptly named ‘Puffer Boot’ looking like an object of interstellar fascination. While we’re yet to confirm an official release date, Zellerfeld seems certain that the megalithic silo will ‘inspire more printed shoe designs to go the oversized route in the future.’ Not to be left out, Reebok also plugged in the printers, hooking up with BOTTER for the Venus Comb Murex Shell, a silhouette using HP Multi Jet Fusion (MJF) technology. Somewhat similar to the unreleased Yeezy D Rose, the deepsea design actually took cues from Murex seashells – the very same with which Greek Goddess Venus combed her hair. Hey, if it’s good enough for a Greek Goddess!

Rise of ASICS







If anyone was in any doubt about ASICS’ rise in the footwear industry, Paris AW23 put it to bed. From the launch of the Brain Dead x ASICS Gel-Nimbus 9 to collaborations with AWAKE NY and Andersson Bell, ASICS were on fire all week long. Not for the faint of heart (or weak at the knees), Brain Dead’s gaudy GEL-Nimbus 9 split sneakerheads right down the middle, with the mind-melting medley of colours simply too much to handle for some (alas, we’ll most certainly be stunting pairs at SF HQ). Seoul-based fashion label Andersson Bell also got in on the ASICS action, the exclusive GEL-Sonoma 15-50 boasting an adroit blend of fashion and utility. Arriving in a trio of eye-catching colourways, the model was originally conceived as a technical runner optimised for trail running. Always a centrepiece of their collaborations, Andersson Bell’s storytelling took centre stage. The trio of colourways this time revolved around ‘ASICS World’ – a strange place full of peculiar plants and creatures.

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