A Complete History of JJJJound's Footwear Colabs
have had quite a journey since being founded by Justin R. Saunders in 2006. What started as a ‘digital mood board intended to examine the recurring patterns in timeless design’, as described by the brand, is now a leading collaborator in the sneakersphere.
In 2008, Saunders made a decision to focus his platform exclusively on imagery to present elevated, evocative visuals sans text, which at that stage, was far ahead of its time.
Saunders’ keen eye for curation soon vaulted him into the upper echelon of the global creative elite: he’s rubbed shoulders with , and since the BEEN TRILL days, consulted for The New York Times’ T Magazine and worked with , who famously quipped that he asked himself if things were ‘JJJJound-approved’ in a 2016 interview with Surface.
JJJJound put out its first physical product (a tote bag) in 2013, and since then has become known for its minimal, keenly crafted takes on essential items from hoodies to beanies to dryer balls and bikes, the ‘ideal versions’ of everyday staples. It was only a matter of time before JJJJound got into the world of footwear, and in January 2016, Saunders posted shots of a trainer, a and a on his blog, foreshadowing JJJJound’s first three sneaker collaborations.
From its first effort in 2016 to the swath of collaborations it’s brought to market since, JJJJound’s simple, elegant and elevated sneakers, shoes and boots have landed on year after year and skyrocketed in resell value as well. We're taking a look back at their collaborative footwear lineage.