The Hoka Mafate Gets Designer Remake from _J.L-A.L_
There was a time when high fashion footwear was made for style and style alone, with no attention paid to comfort or function. Those days are long gone, and designer footwear collaborations with sportswear and technical running brands are now commonplace in the industry. Next up for this fusion of luxury fashion and technical footwear is the second project between _J.L-A.L_ and Hoka.
British designer Jean-Luc Ambridge’s _J.L-A.L_ label has been one of the UK’s fashion industry’s heavy hitters for the last few years, combining technical design and simple colors with avant-garde silhouettes. In the brand’s second collaboration with Hoka, _J.L-A.L_ put together a two-pair pack, remixing the Mafate X sneaker in colorways inspired by the intersection of earth and water.
The earth-inspired pair features an espresso-brown mesh upper with a jet-black midsole and Vibram outsole. On the water-inspired pair, _J.L-A.L_ takes a lighter approach, adding a volcanic ash grey mesh upper and a beluga pale pink midsole, ankle collar, and laces. Hokas are known for their technical construction, and the _J.L-A.L_ Mafate X is no different, built with a carbon plate for stability, foam chassis for comfort, and a PEBA layer for energy return.
The _J.L-A.L_ x HOKA Mafate X Collection is set to drop August 22, 2025, through _J.L-A.L_ and select Hoka retailers in-store and online. Available in men's sizing, the price is set at $255. Download the Sole Retriever mobile app to stay updated on the latest releases, raffles, news, and more in the sneaker and streetwear world.
_J.L-A.L_ x Hoka Mafate X Jet Black
_J.L-A.L_ x Hoka Mafate X Beluga
Zach Harris is a writer based in Philadelphia. His work has appeared in Rolling Stone, Vice, Complex, High Times, and more. He is obsessed with skateboarding and bowling. He is still looking for his first 300. zach.h@soleretriever.com
