Salehe Bembury, one of the most visionary sneaker designers of this generation, is releasing his own book titled Salehe Bembury: I Make Shoes, published by Rizzoli. The book covers all of his designs for YEEZY, Versace, and, of course, New Balance, where he is still actively involved.
With 368 pages, the book is not only a retrospective of the striking designs from his (early) career but also an exploration of Bembury’s nature-inspired design philosophy. Through sketches and never-before-seen samples, it shows how his abstract ideas develop into finished products.
From his first New Balance collaborations to the Crocs Pollex Clog and his own sneaker line SPUNGE, which he recently teased, everything is included. Ahead of the book launch, it was also revealed that he turned down an offer from Nike to maintain his creative freedom for developing his own line.
In addition to previously released sneakers, the book also features never-before-seen collaborations with New Balance. Notable colorways of the 1000 and 990v2 are shown, each with a bold color palette. The 1000 versions in particular use vibrant colors, while the 992s appear in more subdued, natural tones.
The book is now available, along with the first sneakers from Bembury’s own SPUNGE line. The release dates for the next New Balance drops have not yet been announced.
Keep an eye on the Sneakerjagers news page for updates.
