Virgil Abloh’s Off-White imprint continues to make noise with sneakers, this time with their own in-house basketball shoe dubbed “The Baller”. These photos shared by High Snobiety reveal a design inspired by the textured leather and rubber bindings of a basketball with their audacious lettering and branding.
Debuting on the runway at Milan Fashion Week this week, the Off-White “The Baller” instantly brings us back to the gaudy streetball era of the early 2000s. Instantly, the silhouette draws comparisons to AND1 and DADA, while the bold branding and messaging speaks to the irreverent attitude of these grittier basketball brands. Three colorways have been revealed thus far; a classic brown basketball version, a bright neon green, and a glamorous black version with encrusted in shiny gems.
It’s not yet determined if these shoes are fit for performance, or if they’re merely a casual fashion piece. Given the sheer heft of the sneaker, as well as the apparent lack of ventilation, Off-White’s “The Baller” is likely not mean for actual in-game wear.
Stayin on the topic of sneakers by fashion brands, the brown Jacquemus Nike J Force 1 is dropping in March.