Off-White Blazer Low Leaks : Virgil Breaks His 3% Rule

The latest leaks of the Off-White x Nike Blazer Low is a break from Virgil Abloh’s “3% rule”.

Off-White Nike Blazer Leaks: Virgil Breaks His 3% Rule To Design

Update: April 5, 2:45 pm (Singapore time)
The Off-White x Nike Blazer Low has popped up on Nike SNKRS. Listed in both the black and white colorway, the late Virgil’s spin on the Nike Blazer low is slated to drop on April 8 at a retail price of S$199. You can also join the ballot for the sneaker on End Launches.

New leaks have unveiled Virgil Abloh’s next collaboration with Nike, the Off-White x Nike Blazer Low.

This sneaker is a break from Virgil Abloh’s 3% rule. It comes with new elements that completely alter the overall shape of the sneaker, so it’s not just changing about 3% of any design “such that we can recognize it as a shoe we already have.” Instead, the new Off-White Blazer looks strikingly different from a classic pair of Blazers and from the rear, might not even look like one.

Read our interview with Virgil Abloh: “We have sort of burst into a commercial viability that didn’t exist before. It’s (streetwear) no longer niche and a mass trend.”

The Off-White Blazer Low comes with drastic changes to its midsole, which will come with a heel that is reminiscent of modern runners like the Pegasus 37.

Off-White Nike Blazer Leaks: Virgil Breaks His 3% Rule To Design

Early renders of the Off-White x Nike Blazer Low.

It gets much more chaotic on the upper, which combines design cues from prior Off-White x Nike sneakers. The cut-out holes come from the Air Jordan 5 while the double lace setup comes from the Off-White Dunks.

Abloh has definitely taken a more experimental approach to his recent sneaker collaborations with Nike. His upcoming Blazer, Air Jordan 2 and the recently released Air Zoom Tempo Next% are radically different from his early releases and push the boundaries of what people have come to expect of Off-White. They aren’t meant for everyone, but that may be the intention.