After cooking up three spring-ready Wave Rider Beta sneaker colorways, Mizuno is gearing up for a nostalgia-fueled collaborative release. Starring three new Wave Mujin silhouettes, the Japanese have enlisted Hiroshi Nagai for his graphical input. Known for his highly-characterized graphic designs and illustrations depicting dreamy, sun-drenched tropical landscapes, Nagai’s works were most prominently featured in album covers during the ’80s and in the revival of city pop.
The Wave Rider Beta’s uppers arrive in a mesmerizing and vivid blue gradient — the colorway nods to some of Nagai’s signature, evoking an everlasting mood of summer skies in his works. Like clouds in the sky, the leathery overlays come in a soft, pale gray hue, while the soles bring to mind a sandy beach with its beige and speckled appearance.
On the other hand, the Wave Mujin TL is presented in a black-on-black look, with uppers fitted with a mix of smooth leather and suede. It’s inspired by the stark shadowy contrasts observed under the strong summer sun, while the pops of colors seep through from the collar lining, tongue padding and sole in an impressionistic rose pattern.
As for the Wave Prophecy LS, the model encapsulates the overall mood and aesthetics of Nagai’s graphics with a playful mood and colorful palette. All three silhouettes are implemented with Hiroshi Nagai’s penguin-shaped logo on the heel counters.
Retailing between ¥22,000 – ¥29,700 JPY ( $148 – $199 USD), the Mizuno Hiroshi Nagai Pack collection is set to release in Japan on March 23, where it will be available to purchase online and in-stores starting from 11 a.m. JST. The collection will also be shoppable in the EU, but the Wave Mujin TL option won’t be available, with prices ranging from €220 – €260 EUR.
