Oakley is a brand with such a vast catalogue of great items that it could solely rely on reissuing classic silhouettes, and no one would bat an eyelid.
But for Oakley Factory Team, the brand’s creative laboratory for conceptual design and experimentation, relying purely on nostalgia isn’t an option.
Brain Dead leads the Factory Team, which constantly tinkers, explores, and researches. The team’s latest conceptual labour results in a completely new silhouette as part of their latest AW24 drop.
The newcomer is called the Ibex, and it looks pretty mad (in a good way) it’s a bit like someone took an Oakley Chop Saw and meshed it with an Air Max 95—an all-purpose outdoor 110 if you will.
The silhouette’s likeness to Sergio Lozano’s masterpiece comes from the shoe’s design cues, which reference human anatomy, particularly the flow-molded exoskeleton that frames the upper section of the shoe, creating a texture of layers.
A nylon lacing system connects the exoskeleton, and the entire upper rests atop Oakley’s signature “O-Grip” outsole, ensuring superior traction when the terrain becomes testing.
The Ibex comes in two distinct colourways: Camelia Glazed, a bold, flame-scarlet hue inspired by wildflowers, and Eclipse, a dark tone mirroring a lunar eclipse.
Oakley Factory Team states that the Ibex design offers a glimpse into the future of outdoor footwear. If that is the case, the future of outdoor footwear looks good.
To ease the pressure of joining Oakley’s roster, the Factory Team has accompanied the Ibex drop with new colourways of two classic models: the Edge Boot and Flesh Sandal.
The latest Flesh Sandal comes in deep-black suede paired with a dark-green outsole, while a graphite-blue hair suede panel joins a grey rubber outsole for the Edge Boot.
This Oakley drop should appeal to everyone, and if it doesn’t appeal to you, you’re either contrary, poorly dressed, or struggle to tell the difference between your gluteus maximus and your articulatio cubiti
The Oakley Factory Team FW24 Drop 3 will be available on December 17th at 10:00 (PT) from Brain Dead, Oakley, and select stockists.
