Nathan Bell x Nike Zoom SP White/Pink

The Nathan Bell x Nike Zoom SP brings on more of the trending hand-written motifs onto a modern model

Basing its aesthetic on some recognizable idioms, this shoe’s execution is tough to forget. One could make the point that we’re speeding towards a zenith with these DIY details on shoes. Hand-written prints have been all the rage since the likes of Virgil Abloh and Tom Sachs incorporated them.

The resulting shoes have been quite popular. Whether this is because of the name associations or the actual shoes is as yet unknown. However, this collaborative drop holds its own.

The Pink hue covering it is appropriate for its Valentine’s Day release date. This monochromatic make-over is adorned with the personalized script, courtesy of Nathan Bell. An elite runner who is a bundle of talent and joy, his favorite quotes are all over the shoe.

Though most of the scripts here are pretty encouraging, some get deep about the sport of running. Sections of “Try and Stop Me” and “K[NO]W Finish Lines” share real estate with the more somber “Running to Keep From Crying.”

It’s a tour de force of emotional connections to running and what it does for Bell. Every visual detail is hand-written or drawn. Even the Swoosh branding notes are doodled on. The result is an interestingly nuanced iteration. Far from blending in with similarly styled releases, the Nathan Bell x Nike Zoom SP is special.

It stands as a tribute to running from distinctive perspectives. “Last One Gets a Rotten Egg” reminds us of childhood races to see who was fastest. Meanwhile “I Can’t Feel My Legs” scripts echo the feeling one gets just as they near the end of a race, drained and fatigued. A gorgeous color, decked out in personal prints. There isn’t a whole lot not to love here.

If you are a Nike fan check out the Nike Air Max 270 ISPA Blue Void/ Black/ Terra Orange and also the Nike Kyrie Low Floral.