Ewing Athletics’ New RLW Sneaker to Debut With Nods to Big Pun, the New York Knicks and Japanese Culture
Ewing Athletics will soon have a new model among its range of retro sneakers.
Images of the Ewing Athletics RLW (which stands for Rogue Low Wave) have surfaced online, a rare low-cut silhouette from the namesake brand of NBA icon Patrick Ewing.
Three colorways of the shoe — designed by Ewing Athletics creative director Jonas Guerrero — have been revealed, most notably a standout blue, red and white pair. This look, which features blue leather uppers with red mesh paneling, was done in partnership with the estate of the late rap legend Big Pun.
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The blue, white and red shoe is titled “100%,” which is a nod to one of Big Pun‘s most beloved songs, and will release on June 6, the date of the National Puerto Rican Day Parade in New York City. It also includes a Puerto Rican flag on the pull tab.
Also, a blue, black and orange pair of the Ewing Athletics RLW has surfaced, which is a nod to the New York Knicks, the team where Ewing became a professional basketball legend.
The third pair is executed in green and gum hues, and is inspired by a Japanese matcha tea ceremony. It is constructed with nappy suede uppers, which is a nod to the texture of matcha, and features hemp on the paneling inspired by the whisk used to mix the matcha.
Though the Ewing Athletics RLW model will debut in June, the price point has not yet been revealed.
About the Author
Peter Verry is the Senior News and Features Editor for Athletic and Outdoor at Footwear News. He oversees coverage of the two fast-paced and ultracompetitive markets, which includes conducting in-depth interviews with industry leaders and writing stories on sneakers and outdoor shoes. He is a lifelong sneaker addict (and shares his newest purchases via @peterverry on Instagram) and spends most of his free time on a trail. He holds an M.A. in journalism from Hofstra University and can be reached at peter.verry@footwearnews.com.
