Jared Ebanks Amidst the smell of seafood broils and crawfish, Baton Rouge, Louisiana is home to a vibrant sneaker ecosystem. Widely recognized for their collaborative “Crawfish” New Balance Trent Rockets T-Shirt Junior Boys in 2014, sneaker boutique and skate shop Rukus have announced their latest joint effort alongside New Balance’s Numeric banner that effortlessly invokes the area’s deep-rooted history.
Traditions and tales have been passed down across the bayous for generations with Voodoo culture permeating throughout the marsh since the 18th century. In a testament to that Leather culture, the Baton Rouge brand explores a myriad of textiles atop the low-top New Balance 440. Resembling the aesthetic of a Voodoo Doll, a tan-tinted shaggy suede textile fills the vamp, quarter and heel counter while the midfoot is treated to a rich burlap paneling. Reminiscent of the doll’s construction, a persistent amount of tack stitching animates the bright red pebble leather “N” logos and the heel with jet-black buttons mirroring the doll’s eyepieces.
Further pops of crimson animate the heel tabs and inner linings that simultaneously feature bright blue custom Rukus vévé detailing – a nod to the commonly used symbol in Voodoo rituals where vévés are drawn on the floor.
The Rukus x New Balance 440 “Voodoo Doll” will be released on Friday, December 1, 2023 at the Rukus pop-up inside of Perkins Rowe at 10156 Perkins Rowe Suite 110, Baton Rouge Louisiana 70810. In the meantime, the pair can be seen ahead in detailed imagery.
