Just Blaze Showed off a Polo Japanorak-Inspired Saucony Sample from 2015
PublishedQuick Facts
- The Japanorak pairs use buttery navy blue suede across the entire upper with a white Saucony side panel logo with a red circle in the middle to represent the Japanese flag
- “We ran into a production issue (can’t remember what), so we never put it into production,” Just Blaze wrote on Facebook
- “We made two samples, these pictured, and another pair that had ‘Just Blaze’ in Kanji on the tongues instead of the English patches," he added
When Japanese retailer BEAMS and Polo Ralph Lauren announced the return of the Japanorak anorak jacket with a Japanese flag on the chest, ‘Lo heads and fashion fans around the world started salivating. And with Japanorak hype returning to prominence, legendary music producer and prolific sneaker head Just Blaze took to Facebook to show off a bygone Saucony sample inspired by the archive jacket.
Spotted on the Polo Ralph Lauren Lifestyle Facebook group by fashion reporter Lei Takanashi, the Just Blaze post shows off two colorways of Japanorak-inspired Sauconys that were designed as a third pair in the Packer Shoes x Just Blaze x Saucony collection that featured a Snow Beach Polo jacket pair and a roulette-inspired Casino colorway.
The Japanorak pairs use buttery navy blue suede across the entire upper with a white Saucony side panel logo with a red circle in the middle to represent the Japanese flag. “We ran into a production issue (can’t remember what), so we never put it into production,” Just Blaze wrote on Facebook. “We made two samples, these pictured, and another pair that had ‘Just Blaze’ in Kanji on the tongues instead of the English patches.”
In another era, this is the kind of grail that would have added a few thousand in resale value with the drop of the BEAMS x Polo retro jacket. Instead, it’s just a memory from one of the best in the game. Sometimes, it’s even better that way. For all the latest sample sneaker news and drop info, download the Sole Retriever mobile app.
Zach Harris is a writer based in Philadelphia. His work has appeared in Rolling Stone, Vice, Complex, High Times, and more. He is obsessed with skateboarding and bowling. He is still looking for his first 300. For tips, reviews, and anything in size 10.5 - zach.h@soleretriever.com
