Issey Miyake’s take on New Balance’s Minimus barefoot trail runner marries the Japanese fashion house’s cutting-edge sophistication with running purity.
The era where minimalist running shoes were all the rage almost seems like a distant memory — back then, one was guaranteed to meet a runner donning offerings from Merrell and Vibram (that were more glove than footwear), whilst doing one’s rounds. Naturally, the fad eventually faded. Today, following the record-breaking exploits of marathoners like Eliud Kipchoge and Sifan Hassan, the pendulum has swung the other way. The democratisation of the tech that went into these top marathoners’ wheels of choice meant that chunky, maximalist shoes with thick blocks of cushioning, lightweight uppers and carbon-fibre soleplates quickly flooded the market, becoming the current vogue for long-distance running.
It is precisely this context that distinguishes Japanese fashion house Issey Miyake’s cutting-edge take on New Balance’s Minimus line of running shoes. While it is a nostalgic, minimalist counter-response to the current climate of avant-garde running shoe maximalism, it is also so much more: a refined return to nature, and a sophisticated symbol of running in its purest form. To those familiar with the age of the minimalist/barefoot running shoe, the silhouette is immediately familiar — a snug fit, closely resembling the shape of the foot, coupled with a barely-noticeable heel drop of 4mm, unmistakably places this shoe in the barefoot runner category.
While the silhouette is one that is familiar, a closer look at the shoe identifies it as a cut above the rest of the Minimus line. The usual waffle texture of the regular collection’s upper is now streamlined, through the combination of supple, premium lightweight leather with a breathable mesh spanning the lace area and the wide toebox. However, sophistication is only half the story with this shoe — performance-wise, it also has a thinner set of cord-like, lightweight laces, and the sole retains its Vibram material and nub pattern for maximum durability and traction on the gravel of trail runs.
A word of warning though: for the uninitiated, barefoot running is something to be gradually eased into — the recommendation is to incorporate the shoes into ten percent of the workout and progressively work your way up from that number, whilst getting familiar with the mid-to-forefoot strike running form that the shoe is meant to optimise. That being said, once the threshold is crossed, the long-term upside is immensely attractive: stronger feet, ankles and calves (which mean lesser risk of injuries); a more natural gait and efficient running form; and improved balance and proprioception.
Regardless, Issey Miyake’s take on the New Balance Minimus MT10O elegantly treads the liminal space between performance and style, and is a timely return to the purest of values when it comes to running, making it a must-have in the rotation — be it as a minimalist yet stylish alternative, or a return to running purity amidst today’s technology-aided landscape.
The Issey Miyake x New Balance MT10O will be available in White, Black, and Blue Green from 14 June onwards, at both Issey Miyake’s voco Orchard store and club21.com.
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