When I was young, I was totally and utterly fascinated with what lived below the ground. I’d dig in my back garden for hours – not even totally sure what I was looking for. Coming across all manner of beetles, worms and other insects that scared my sister in the excavation process.
Fortunately, I’ve recovered from my digging obsession – I now know you can’t actually dig through to Australia.
And it would appear that someone at KEEN headquarters has had the same muddy fingered childhood as I did, as they’ve just announced the launch of their Terrain Pack – an entire capsule inspired totally by… the ground.
They’ve taken three of their most familiar silhouettes and given them a proper soil-themed overhaul: the Jasper Zionic, the Hyperport, and the UNEEK LEA. Nothing has been reinvented from scratch here, but everything’s been dug up and reworked with a more textured, earth-first feel.
The Jasper Zionic has been wrapped in earthy suede with a cracked, almost baked-earth texture running through it. There’s also some haircow detailing on the heel and tongue, which sounds a bit odd until you look at it – and suddenly realise that cattle might be one of the most stylish creatures our planet has to offer.
The Hyperport Sandal has been doused in hairy suede, and an uneven, dirt-like texture gives it a scuffed-up, already worn-in look. Add in translucent hardware, and you get something that feels a bit like digging down into different soil layers and finding an ancient bottlecap.
Then there’s the UNEEK LEA, which is probably the most playful interpretation of the idea. KEEN’s already quite distinctive corded sneaker has been pushed further into organic messiness territory, with hairy bungee cords and a haircow upper that makes it feel like it’s been assembled from whatever you might find if you actually kept digging long enough. It’s still recognisably UNEEK, just a bit more unruly around the edges.
All in all, the Terrain Pack doesn’t feel like a dramatic reinvention so much as someone at KEEN living out their (and my) childhood dream. Much like digging, the pack is fun, filthy and full of creativity.
Find out more about KEEN’s Terrain Pack at KEEN
