Brain Dead x Oakley "Flesh Slip-on" Release Information

Despite being commonly known for their eyewear, Oakley have deep roots in the outdoor-sneaker game - roots which are being dug up by Brain Dead in the brands’ upcoming collaboration.

Oakley have tapped the L.A collective for a reimagining of the ‘Flesh Slip-on', a design pulled straight from the 2000’s archive that perfectly captures the experimental zeitgeist of footwear from that era. Any apostles of the ‘gorp’ subculture will be familiar with the shoe, with vintage pairs still fetching a price of over $200 on the after-market. 

The release delivers three colourways of the silhouette, each sporting the same chunky black sole with vibrantly coloured, futuristic uppers. Rough haired suede sits in between gel-oval detailing and a moisture-wicking aeroprene lining. The ‘Flesh’ moniker is punctuated by the intense comfort of the shoe, as they are designed to be unnoticeably worn as an extension of one’s foot.

Like many popular styles today, it’s one that was once discontinued and discarded to the yard sales and thrift stores of the world, like Nike’s Air Kukini, or New Balance’s 550, it’s a shoe that was clearly ahead of its time and is finally getting the love it deserves. Who knows, maybe those Soulja Boy sneakers will be popular in another 20 years?

The Oakley x Brain Dead Flesh Slip-ons will be available April 19th from wearebraindead.com.