Saucony & the Shadow 500
One of the oldest sportswear brands in the world, Saucony (pronounced sock-a-knee, I have it on good authority) was founded in 1898 near the banks of the Saucony Creek in Kutztown Pennsylvania.
When the brand first started producing running gear, athletes were often racing in inappropriate leather shoes, or even barefoot. A change was due.Saucony hit the ground running (lol), and by the early 20th Century were already producing up to 1,000 pairs of sneakers a day. Saucony's deep roots in running have ensured that throughout its history it has consistently been synonymous with the sport. Performance footwear is still the brands biggest seller.
The 80s were a big time in sneaker culture, with kicks making the leap from sportswear to everyday wear, and for Saucony, it was no different. Many of the brands most iconic silhouettes were released in this decade.
Originally brought out in 1989 as a performance runner, the Shadow 5000 is famed for its blend of classically 80’s aesthetics with performance-enhancing technology.
With a silhouette coming in a little chunkier than Sauconys biggest icon, the Jazz Original, the Shadow 5000 couldn’t be more in-line with current sneaker trends.
Uppers are crafted from premium suede and rugged nylon, a mix that feels like a subtle nod to both the silhouettes sporting past and our present-day athleisure trend. The off-white colour on the midsole adds a retro vibe. Like the Jazz Originals, the Shadow 5000 are finished with a black outsole.
Highlights of this seasons drop are definitely the colourways. We see some really nice colour pairings; mustard and baby blue, grey and pink, turquoise and black.
The Shadow 5000 is now firmly a crown jewel in the Saucony Originals collection, almost 30 years on from its initial release and largely unchanged since. If it ain't broke.
Check out our campaign shoot below | photos by @perry_gibson featuring @crusco_
