Hoka Taps Rising Canadian-Ghanian Designer Spencer Badu for a Premium Running Shoe
Hoka is ramping up its efforts in fashion, bringing Spencer Badu into the fold for his first footwear collaboration.
The Spencer Badu x Hoka Elevon X leans into the Canadian-Ghanian designer’s heritage on a premium running silhouette. A striking yellow upper sits above a black mudguard and sole unit, and a tongue charm depicts the cowrie shell, which was once used for currency on Ghana’s Gold Ghost. Sitting directly above the toe is the Adinkra symbol for fawohodie (or freedom), and the shoe also incorporates the Nyame Dua (or Tree of God). Spencer Bandu marks can then be found on the tongue, tongue pull and mudguard.
“Your first shoe comes with a lot of pressure,” Badu said in a press release. “I wanted to create something that reflected the story behind my brand. We design for movement, physical and emotional, and this collaboration captures that. It’s a representation of the journey we take to understand ourselves and our roots.”
A campaign short film for the Badu collaboration was filmed in Ghana and Toronto.
Badu founded his eponymous label in 2015 while still in college and was named Menswear Designer of the Year at the 2024 Canadian Arts & Fashion Awards. Despite the gendered nature of his award, his approach is more unisex, and Badu is as prone to oversized and cropped silhouettes as he is to technical details and asymmetry.
The Elevon X is a relaunch for the Elevon, a lightweight trainer for road or trail that was introduced in 2018, got one successor and then disappeared. For the franchise’s comeback in 2024, Hoka retained the running DNA with a Pebax plate while tailoring more toward lifestyle with a perforated nubuck upper and full-grain leather mudguard.
“This partnership captures the pure spirit of a successful collaborative engagement: authenticity, motion, and meaning,” said Thomas Cykana, senior director of Global Collaborations and Partnerships at Hoka. “Spencer brought a vision to the table that aligns deeply with our values, and together we’ve created a moment that tells a powerful story through his eyes.”
In April, Hoka had its most high-fashion moment yet through its debut collaboration with Marni on puffy, monochrome Bondi B3LSs.
The Spencer Badu x Hoka Elvon X will release Thursday, May 15, through Spencer Badu’s website and boutiques, followed the next day on Hoka’s website and additional retailers. Pricing is set at $225.