AVNIER & Salomon revive the hiking trend with their ‘Mirage Effect’

Paris-based brand AVNIER is once again teaming up with Salomon to launch an iteration of its iconic S-LAB XT 5 Softground in the spring/summer 2020 frame. These hiking sneakers called ‘Mirage Effect’ are inspired by the Marathon des Sables: one of the toughest races in the world, surviving 160 miles across the Sahara.

The desert in a sneaker. The color palette of these new Salomon’s take as a reference the sand, ivory and stone tones seen by runners through the desert, while the electric blue of the sole simulates a mirage of water.

The technical elements run through the shoe, which is made of perforated mesh and ripstop nylon with attached graphics. The Quicklace lace system, Contagrip Chevron outsole and SensiFit construction enhance the functionality of the silhouette.

Speaking about the drop, AVNIER‘s creative director, Sébastian Strappazzon, explained that the brand aimed to “explore the paradox between freedom and containment, relaxed and controlled, dualities that one can find through the desolate landscapes of the Sahara, where the feeling of endless freedom contrasts with the restrictive conditions of the desert”.

The AVNIER x Salomon S-Lab XT 5 Softground “Mirage Effect” will land on the AVNIER website on June 17th.