So much style: The Acribik x Saucony Azura ST „Miami Vice“
Shortly before the release of their universally lauded Saucony Azura ST „Tech Noir“ collaboration (read our review here), the Acribik team teased a white companion model on their IG page. Dubbed „Miami Vice“, this model was to be friends and family only. Luckily, the batch was large enough that some extra pairs could subsequently be raffled to the public. This is how we got our hands on one of these coveted models, and we’ll let you know here what we think of it.
So here we are, face to face with the Acribik x Saucony Azura ST „Miami Vice.“ From the get-go, it is clear that Acribik wanted to maintain their artistic theme, yet at the same time present something wholly different with the F&F pair. Draped in white with only subtle hints of the vaporwave color palette that makes the Tech Noir such a recognizable affair, the Miami Vice strikes one as the perfect shoe for summer. Lightweight and breathable, and with a slick design on top of that, this shoe is equally suitable for those hot summer days and nights.
The upper is a mix of leather and mesh, while the relatively comfortable tongue features prominently the Acribik x Saucony logo against a black background. As is standard with the Azura ST, the mid is hella thick and makes for a well-cushioned ride. At the same time, however, the extra-long stability belt around the heel – kept in the pink and blue hues of the thematic Outrun aesthetic – ensures a snug fit. Finally, the outsole is accentuated by Saucony’s own take on the Torsion bar, or what it is calling a „Torsional Rigidity Bar“. Initially made of then-revolutionary materials Hytrel and Kevlar to ensure high energy return, the TRB (the acronym is still prominently displayed) now instead provides a pink flashpoint with every step.
Whereas Acribik used the Azura ST silhouette on the Tech Noir as a canvas to pay homage to the 80s and the more than vibrant music scene of that era, the Miami Vice pair is a much more subdued and nuanced affair. As such it is an apt nod to the OG Azura ST itself, which was a state-of-the-art runner at the time of its release in 1988. Rather than carrying the design, this time around the aesthetic draws attention to the shoe and highlights its technical elements. Be it the torsional bar or the stability belt, these details are put on display in the best possible way. By keeping the vaporwave aesthetics to a minimum, it is again the runner that re-emerges in all its late 80s glory, almost ready again to take on the road.
To be sure, the Miami Vice is instantly recognizable as belonging to the Acribik x Saucony collaborative pack. One could lament the fact that this model is only an extremely limited release few will be able to experience in person. However, it is noteworthy that the Acribik team chose to make the remaining pairs available to aficionados, thus giving the public a better view of their aesthetic vision. With such an inaugural collaboration, hopes should be high that the future will bring many good things from both Acribik and Saucony.
