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The “Solid Gold” and “Stainless Steel” David Z x Asics Get Lyte IIIs will release Friday, December 14th with only 100 pairs per color available at the flagship David Z store (556 Broadway). David Z will also make 50 pairs available at 3:00PM EST Friday online at DavidZ.com to help out those not in the NYC area. Each pair comes with a matching backpack for $130.
With only a few days remaining until the release of the latest collaborative project between Asics and David Z, we were fortunate enough to catch up with Ronnie Fieg for a quick Q & A as well as get some really detailed shots of the shoes. Full interview and pics after the jump.
Matt Halfhill – Nice Kicks: Why did you go after the metallic gold and steel on these?
Ronnie Fieg – David Z: I feel that metallics like Gold and Silver represent luxury. It was important for us to do that because David Z is becoming a more elite sneaker shop downtown in SoHo, so I wanted to give more of a luxurious feeling for the shoes.
Matt: This winter metallics have been insanely popular. Why do you think that all of a sudden alot of brands are using metallics?
Ronnie: Metallics have become a new color. Gold, Silver, Pewter, Bronze, these have all become staple colors in fashion. Some people are looking at it as just another color, but I still feel that it gives a cleaner and more luxurious look to a product. Metallics give the shoes a special feeling and I think thats why there are more SMU (special make up) projects that are using metallics.
Matt: On the shoes, I noticed that there wasn’t just one material of metallic on the shoe.
Ronnie: Yeah, it was pretty fun to work with the Asics Product Group to decide which materials we were going to use. I was most interested in seeing different textures of the metallic leather. Like you had mentioned, alot of different companies are doing metallic shoes, but something that I wanted to do was to use different textures and materials like I have done with my other collaborations.
They had that textured leather, the wrinkled leather, that “hologramic looking” leather that gives it a shiny look, and lastly they were able to match up the mesh with the gold and the silver.
Matt: Its hard to believe that these are the same silhouette as what you used for your last set of Asics. Last time you used a host of colors, why this time did you go with only two?
Ronnie: I wanted the shoes to be clean. Its a new age, and as the year progresses into 2008 people are looking for a more finished and clean look with solid colors and what have you.
The last time I used a ton of different colors to introduce the shoe and show all the panels and the endless possibilities that can be done with the shoes. You could see all the different pieces of the shoe and even that you could put four different colors just in the midsole. Now that people know what CAN be done, it was nice to show the shoe in a calmer, bi-color shoe. One color on the sole and one color on the upper and I think it came out nice.
Matt: I have noticed on these shoes as well as prior collaborations that you have done with other companies that David Z is not stamped anywhere on the product, insole, or even on the box. Why is it that David Z doesn’t co-brand the product on the collaboration shoes like many collabs with other companies do?
Ronnie: I’m happy that you asked that actually. The reason why you don’t see David Z anywhere on the products is that we don’t want to sell the shop. Its very important for our people to understand that we’re not trying to sell our name when they buy a shoe.
We want to create a product that people get excited about because of the product itself, not the store you have to line up outside of. The design of the shoe should be the attraction – not the name of the company who’s selling it.
David Z x Asics Gel Lyte III “Solid Gold”
David Z x Asics Gel Lyte III “Solid Gold”
David Z x Asics Gel Lyte III “Solid Gold”
David Z x Asics Gel Lyte III “Solid Gold”
David Z x Asics Gel Lyte III “Solid Gold”
David Z x Asics Gel Lyte III “Stainless Steel”
David Z x Asics Gel Lyte III “Stainless Steel”
David Z x Asics Gel Lyte III “Stainless Steel”
David Z x Asics Gel Lyte III “Stainless Steel”
David Z x Asics Gel Lyte III “Stainless Steel”
