Universal Works & Saucony Present the Jazz NXT "Route to the Future" Collab

As Saucony gears up to celebrate its 125th anniversary, the drops continue to come thick and fast. For its latest release, the Pennsylvania-born sneaker brand has linked up with Nottingham-based menswear aficionados Universal Works, which serves to introduce a brand-new silhouette: the Saucony Jazz NXT, in a project the duo has named “Route to the Future”.

Marking the pair’s second collaborative effort, and the continuation of the “Future Friendship Project”, the collection debuts the new silhouette in two earthy shades. Arriving in “Brown” and “Cream”, both pairs feature a hairy suede construction and come peppered with subtle details that call out to both of the brands. These come in the form of playful stitched details that highlight Saucony’s own logo, a Universal Works label on the tongue, and a hand-stitched UW motif on the toe cap.

Speaking on the new silhouette, Saucony Brand President said: “The Jazz NXT is designed for the next generation of Saucony enthusiasts, making it the perfect silhouette for a collaboration,” On the collab itself, he continued: “This year is a special one for us, a chance to reflect on the achievements of the past 125 years and to celebrate our relentless dedication to innovation, culture and authenticity. Like us, Universal Works is dedicated to creating something authentic that enables individuals to live and feel better, and we wanted to embody this when we joined forces to create this sneaker. You can see Saucony’s heritage and innovation throughout, met with Universal Work’s contemporary aesthetic, to create a truly modern classic.”

Universal Works co-founder David Keyte added: “I stumbled upon Saucony during a business trip to the States and it didn't take me long to realise that Saucony makes real running shoes, the kind that real runners want to wear. We’ve all seen the running shoe transform from a purely functional item into a modern classic, and Saucony's Originals line has played a pivotal role in this evolution. As a person who regularly wears sport shoes in my day-to-day life, it's a true pleasure to celebrate this journey with the very brand that made my original marathon shoes.“

The collection is set to drop on the 7th of September at Saucony, Universal Works and selected retailers, and releases alongside a short animated film, made to celebrate the project.

Up next, Mizuno drops its Wave Rider Beta in three autumn-ready colourways.