When it was announced Acronym designer Errolson Hugh’s NikeLab ACG imprint was coming to a close last year, there was suddenly a hole in Nike’s line-up. The line—which, in large part, helped popularize the techwear genre—was Nike’s closest approximation to the sort of functional fashion that has dominated over the past few seasons. Many felt like a successor was in order and the answer was clearly Matthew Williams. While rooted in training, the MMW x Nike line is a clear synthesis between Williams' fabrication first design and Nike’s unparalleled clothing technology. Whereas NikeLab ACG was "Acronym-lite" with a splash of color, MMW x Nike takes all of Alyx’s patented utilitarian hardware and utilizes its capabilities to directly benefit the wearer. Everything from running vests to running shorts/tights hybrids are given the signature Williams’ touch so they are just as suited for the gym as a sudden downpour. This idea of tackling multiple environments clearly resonated and the products quickly sold out. Granted, given the pair's successes, a signature shoe was inevitable.

Officially titled the MMW x Nike Free TR 3 SP, the shoe is in fact two distinct silhouettes. First, there is the men’s version, a mid top sneaker with a speed lacing system inspired by track spikes. Available in both white and black, the form fitting upper sits atop a Nike Free 3 sole and features exterior plastic molding for rigidity while a medial zipper allows for quick removal. The women’s sneaker (though available in men’s sizes and technically unisex) is a high top utilizing the same sole. Rather than molded tech fabric, the women’s sneaker utilizes a knit upper designed to resemble the Nike Elite quarter high sock—the same design Williams’ customized for his first Nike collection. While both sneakers are at least partly based on the Nike Free 3, one new addition is entirely novel—the detachable crampon rubber sole. Designed in partnership with Vibram, the crampon is perfectly fitted but an entirely separate entity. The shoes are gym ready on their own, however with the crampon as a protective barrier are suddenly suited for urban trails and city streets. Following the same concept of tackling multiple environments, the shoe not only sits perfectly in line with Nike and Williams’ vision for MMW, but is an entirely new aesthetic, as refreshing as it is precient.

The MMW x Nike Free TR 3 SP is out now.