Defying convention and ratio, master of contortion, Rick Owens, releases the TURBODRK Chuck 70 Zebra Print colorway.

It’s no secret Rick Owens and Converse have shared a distinct love affair since their initial 2014 collaboration in DRKSHDW’s Ramones. However, this time, the Paris-based designer extends his reimagination of the iconic shoe to new proportions.

Featuring a dramatically elongated tongue and signature square toe, Owens takes the same approach a fun house does with its hall of mirrors; stretching and distorting the proportions of an everyday shoe, his brand’s lens ingrains an oblique sophistication and disruptive edge. Enveloped in a lush zebra-like fabric evocative of shearling, a memorable contrast with its hard edges and exaggerative silhouette asserts the shoe as a staple for footwear connoisseurs.

The campaign stems from Rick Owens’ flair for the unconventional. Drawing on both brands’ mutual love for music, it follows a multi-sensory approach with a playlist on Spotify curated by the Lord of Darkness himself dubbed SCRAPPY TRANSGRESSION. 

Shoe enthusiasts will also be delighted to discover the restocking of TURBOWPN, a beloved classic of Owens’ footwear repertoire. Harmoniously blending elements of minimalism and maximalism, TURBOWPN now comes in DRKSHDW’s distinct two-tone palette.

Reminiscing on the zeal of New Orleans’ bounce culture, Owens recalls, “Over 10 years ago, I was frustrated that there wasn’t a sleazy dance club within walking distance from my house in the 7th arrondissement of Paris so I decided to start one myself. I reached out to Big Freedia to come perform because I was so excited about the new energy and attitude I heard coming from the New Orleans bounce seen.”

He further deepens the campaign’s musical ties by inviting Big Freedia to inject some of his effervescence into the collection. “Now, 10 years later I have asked him to represent my collab with Converse to celebrate his enduring power and ferocity in an all too often narrow and judgemental world,” states Owens.

Rick Owens is an emblem of fearless expression and the avant-garde. Using Converse’s timeless blueprint as a challenge to defy form and redefine style, Owens exemplifies the innovative framework necessary to launch footwear into the future.

Whether sporting them on the street or on the dance floor, the intersection of both brands’ ethos in this collaboration is sure to inspire bold individuality and sheer delight with the reinvention of a beloved classic.

DRKSHDW TURBODRK Chuck 70 and TURBOWPN will be available globally on Jan. 10 at 10:00 AM ET on Converse.com.