(Photo Credit: Reebok)

The ugly sneaker trend seems to be alive and kicking

While some may have been secretly hoping that this rather peculiar and at times puzzling fad would be on its way out in 2020, major designers disagree. In fact, it seems to be picking up momentum.

Maison Margiela, headed by creative director John Galliano, has joined forces with Reebok in a collaborative collection of chunky sneakers that blends the two brands’ iconic footwear staples.

In the case of the French brand, it is their heritage classic split-toe Tabi shoe, which debuted in 1988 when it hit their very first runway show.

Since then, it’s been reincarnated as a pump, a boot, a tennis shoe, a ballet flat and a mule – even a sole that was taped by clear packing tape to models’ feet. Reebok’s Instapump Fury sneaker was birthed in 1994 and has been one of the brand’s most coveted styles ever since.

Cut to now, when these two are merging into one, in the historic Margiela x Reebok collab, which marks the very first time that Galliano has ever joined creative forces with a mainstream brand.

The sneaker to rule them all was showcased as part of the brand’s couture runway collection and is expected to hit the Maison Margiela stores sometime during 2020, reportedly in a variety of colors and in the heeled or heel-less shape – presumably to reach a varied portion of the fashion-forward crowd many of whom are, undoubtedly, already on the waiting list for a pair.