Reebok has teamed up with the folks over at Sneaker Politics for a lush rendition of the NPC UK CNL inspired by Storyville. The neighborhood served as New Orleans’ infamous Red Light District from the late 1800s until 1917; the neighborhood itself was established as a sixteen-block gray zone where prostitution was tolerated, despite being nominally against the law.
As a result, the sneaker takes design cues from the bordellos and brothels of old: the shoe’s quilted maroon leather upper draw from the chaise lounges and couches found in such locales; the insoles feature a red-on-red pattern that mimics a whorehouse’s floor-to-ceiling velvet walls. The gum outsole was meant to reflect the Big Easy’s dirty streets — a nightmare for sneakerheads — and the glossy black eyelets are a nod to garters and fancy lingerie.
This salacious pair of kicks will retail for $110 USD. The first physical drop is on May 20 at Sneaker Politics’ Lafayette and Baton Rouge locations, naturally; an online drop will follow the next day.
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