In certain menswear-obsessed circles, Needles track pants are as good as gold. The pants—characterized by distinct striping, slightly taped-out seams, and a charming butterfly appliqué—come in two different fits and dozens
of different color combos. While Needles offers a full range of menswear in the eclectic, vintage-inspired vision of designer and founder Keizo Shimizu, the track pants have been a breakout hit. We're pretty sure A$AP Rocky owns all of them. Now, the feverishly loved style is moving footward, with Needles dropping a version of Dr. Martens' classic "1460" boot.
Dr. Martens, the longstanding British label, is of course best known for that absolute stomper of a black leather boot. And yetno stranger to fashion collaborations. In recent seasons, the brand has tapped white-hot designers and labels like Samuel Ross' avant-garde A Cold Wall, punkish Japanese line Undercover, the always-cherished Raf Simons, and the streetwear stalwarts at Stüssy. This time, it's Shimizu and Needles' turn to play, and the result does not disappoint. The classic "1460" boot, which debuted back in 1960, gets remade in the much more contemporary image of Needle's beloved track pants. There are the purple stripes at the sides and even signature butterfly graphics printed on the uppers. Elevated Japanese design meets tried-and-true British manufacturing: the boot is set on Dr. Marten's trademarked bouncy Goodyear-welted rubber soles.
As summer transitions to fall—and sneaker season yields to boot season—these Dr. Martens x Needles hit at the perfect time. If you're looking for a new pair of hard-wearing boots that come equipped with a little in-the-menswear-know flair, these will do. And if you simply want a pair of black leather boots with butterflies on them, this collab will hit that butterfly-shaped bullseye, too.