SeaVees, the California sneaker brand, has teamed with Taylor Stitch, a men’s lifestyle label, on a new sneaker model. But the shoe — the 12/64 Huntington Middie sneaker — won’t be produced without Workshop crowdfunding support.
Under the terms of the collaboration, the Middie will go live on Taylor Stitch’s Web site on April 17 and will be offered for two weeks. Any shoes that are pre-ordered will be produced and shipped six to eight weeks later. Those ordering early will receive a slightly discounted price and will get the shoe before it’s released to the general public later this summer.
The Workshop is an internal crowdfunding platform, similar to Kickstarter, that is being employed by Taylor Stitch to cut down on its inventory risk as it introduces a new product.
The 12/64 Huntington Middie is named after the date in 1964 when Surf Guide, a surf enthusiast’s magazine — covered the U.S. Surfboard Championships in Huntington Beach, Calif. The slip-on ankle boot offers a retro design with modern elements such as suede uppers, high sidewalls, a perforated footbed and SeaVees’ rubber herringbone outsole.
The shoe will retail for $87 during the pre-order period and $108 when it goes into production. It will be available in three colors: white, black and brown.
This marks Taylor Stitch’s first foray into footwear.