Saucony and Estudio Niksen Unite for New Trainer 80

Saucony takes its name from the Saucony Creek that flows through Kutztown, Pennsylvania, and its latest capsule with Estudio Niksen likewise looks to nature.

The collaboration revisits Saucony’s archival Trainer 80 model. While the original leaned into performance-forward design, the new iteration slows things down. The form draws from workwear references, only to be softened into an everyday, approachable silhouette. Packaged in a sun-faded, woody tone, the pair pieces together hairy suede with bold stitching, finished with fuzzy shoestrings. 

The collaboration, which launches on April 30, turns toward nature, stepping away from the fast pace of city life. Rather than emphasizing technical precision, the shoes are designed for off-road days and quiet, everyday wear. This focus on a slower rhythm echoes the ethos of the collaborator Estudio Niksen, a Montreal-based brand that embraces the art of doing nothing. The result is a laid-back yet contemporary take on the Trainer 80, adaptable across settings.

As for the campaign, Paris-based photographer and director William Arcand takes the lead. Shot on film, 35mm and 120mm, the visuals come framed in a simple setting against a pitch-black backdrop with stark lighting. The stripped-back approach centers the shoes and their styling, mirroring their clean, effortless sensibility.

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Retailing at $150, shop the Niksen Trainer 80s online at Saucony and Estudio Niksen.