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Lexus “Sole of the UX” Tires Treads the Same Ground as Nike Air Force 1

02.15.19 | By
Lexus “Sole of the UX” Tires Treads the Same Ground as Nike Air Force 1

The sneaker industry has a storied history of referencing automotive design, finding inspiration in the silhouettes, colors, and materials of some of the most iconic cars ever designed (e.g. Nike DeLorean Dunk and the Air Jordan 32 Rosso Corsa). But fashion designer John Elliott has flipped the script, unveiling a 2019 Lexus UX for New York Fashion Week outfitted with a set of all-white tires inspired by one of the most iconic sneakers ever, the Nike Air Force 1.

Unveiled under the moniker “Sole of the UX”, Elliot’s set of custom tires forgo the function of traditional rubber tread for a fashionable sole design emblazoned with the recognizable Nike Swoosh and Air logos, alongside the circular imprint of the iconic sneaker. Dressed in all-white, the one-of-a-kind Lexus UX crossover’s monochromatic assemblage has been further enhanced with detailing reflective of Elliot’s signature detailing, like double-stitched leather and a stepped metal air valve evocative of the stacked metal lace tip found in his own special edition Air Force 1, resulting in an arctic-cool edition that would be as highly coveted as any limited release kicks (and probably even more of a pain to keep clean).

John Elliot’s customized Lexus UX edition is a one-off anomaly, but there are still a few of his Air Force 1 editions that inspired the crossover available on his site in size 10.5+.

“We were excited to merge the streetwear narrative and design cues of our Air Force 1 with a brand like Lexus. We’re thankful they’ve allowed us to use this moment to celebrate the arts and to bring extra energy to our take on a classic,” said John Elliott. “It’s fun to partner with brands that typically live outside the fashion community because it allows us to evolve and continue to push our own boundaries.”



John Elliott

Gregory Han is a Senior Editor at Design Milk. A Los Angeles native with a profound love and curiosity for design, hiking, tide pools, and road trips, a selection of his adventures and musings can be found at gregoryhan.com.