Body of Work will release its second sneaker collaboration with the San Antonio shoemaker at a Tokyo Pop-Up this weekend
Following the success of their first collaboration in November, emerging Canadian sportswear brand Body of Work and Texas-based San Antonio Shoemakers (SAS) have teamed up again to create a second shoe together.
For this new project, Body of Work updated SAS’s JV Mesh silhouette, a walking shoe with two Velcro straps and a sleek silhouette inspired by cycling shoes and vintage sportswear designs. Handcrafted by approximately 80 artisans, the shoe features Italian nubuck leather, full-grain leather, American-made textiles and best-in-class technology for comfort and support.
Inspired by the recreational sites of city parks, the Body of Work x SAS JV Mesh sneaker is handcrafted in the USA and available in men’s and women’s sizes. It will be available in two color schemes inspired by the Canadian brand’s signature natural hues – Ink Black/Black (waxed nubuck leather) and Cove Blue/Black (grey-blue nubuck leather).
For Dwayne Vatcher, who co-founded Body of Work with Brittney MacKinnon in 2020, the new sneaker is the perfect addition to the brand’s existing apparel portfolio. “Our goal, and what drives our work, is to bring an aesthetic approach to an active lifestyle,” Vatcher told FN. “The silhouette of this shoe aligns perfectly with our work because it’s both beautiful and functional, perfect for casual activities.”
The team at Body of Work is excited about the launch, as is the team at SAS. “As a brand that has proudly made footwear in the United States for nearly 50 years, we are thrilled to once again partner with Body of Work on this exciting new release,” added SAS CEO Nancy Richardson. “This collaboration celebrates our shared values of meticulous craftsmanship and attention to detail, while also bringing a fresh, modern design perspective to our shoemaking heritage.”
MacKinnon shares the same sentiment. “We are honored to be working with SAS on the new shoe after the enthusiastic reception of our first project. We are both manufacturers committed to finding the finest materials and working with artisans who have passed down the generations,” MacKinnon said.
To launch the new shoe, Vatcher and MacKinnon are heading to Japan for its official debut. The duo will host a pop-up event at Tokyo’s Float Studio and Art Gallery this weekend. The event, located at 3-1-9 Meguro-honcho in the Japanese capital’s Meguro-ku, is Body of Work’s first pop-up event in Tokyo and will run from September 21 to September 23. Vatcher confirmed that the shoe will retail for $255 and will be available worldwide on September 21.
Tokyo is also the focus of the new shoe’s campaign. Photographed by Ian Lanterman in Tokyo’s Yoyogi Park and surrounding neighborhoods, the scene is the perfect backdrop for the collaboration—highlighting footwear and apparel that are both beautiful and easy to wear.
“Japan is a very important market for us,” MacKinnon told FN. "Since our founding, the Japanese were the first to talk about Body of Work, and we have many direct customers buying our products there. Also, customers in Japan are very forward-thinking, and we wanted to bring this new shoe to them first. We look forward to connecting with them in person to discuss this project."