The shoe feels like a natural fit for Awake NY, which cleverly plays with 1990s motifs in its collections. And the label's founder, longtime Supreme vet Angelo Baque, is a master
of bringing a solid and unexpected perspective to his collaborations. (For a collab with Timberland last year, Awake NY went with a vintage trekking boot instead of the historic label's more obvious six-inch work boot.) Here, the Jungle Moc's waterproof suede upper gets decked out in a muted grey, while the curved and air-cushioned sole gets the two-tone treatment of grey and beige. Some subtle details are included, too, like hints of red and a small Awake logo on the side. All in, it is a sleek-looking shoe that feels closer to the city streets than the rugged hillside. The shoe is set to drop on June 18 via Awake NY and Dover Street Market.
If you followed Baque's handiwork at Supreme, where he worked for a decade before starting Awake NY, you’re likely aware that the designer knows the cleverest collaborations are the ones that catch you off guard. By picking Merrell's Jungle Moc and bringing it over into the space of covetable streetwear, that is precisely what has happened here—and damn, does it look good.