FEATURE | From the City to The Trail With KEEN’s Jasper Silhouettes

Sep 17

Sep 17 FEATURE | From the City to The Trail With KEEN’s Jasper Silhouettes

Rooted in functionality and conscious design, KEEN hosts several innovative silhouettes, from the UNEEK sandal to the Jasper and, now, the Jasper Zionic, a new model that offers a hybrid solution for modern active lifestyles. For individuals who work in the city but seek nature’s refuge in their spare time and need a footwear style to accompany them on these adventures.

To celebrate the past, present, and evolution of KEEN’s ‘Jasper’ style, eye_C uses a futuristic, Japanese cityscape to highlight the versatility of the selected models - the Jasper, Jasper Zionic, and Jasper Rocks - and how they blur the lines between outdoor and city environments. KEEN’s newest footwear style, the Jasper Zionic hybrid sneaker, is at the forefront of the editorial and marks a significant chapter in KEEN’s journey - one that pays homage to the past despite its feet in the future.

An original KEEN style, the Jasper Zionic combines the best of two silhouettes: the Jasper and the Zionic. It takes a genuinely hybrid form by marrying elements from the Jasper, an original climbing-inspired sneaker, with the Zionic, KEEN’s take on a modern hiking boot. Classic styling meets a more function-forward approach to design, combining the construction of the Jasper’s upper and lacing system with the Zionic’s lightweight and responsive outsole. As a result, it can be worn from trail to town without a second thought. This new story seeks to tell the tales of the classics, invigorating and keeping them alive through revised iterations of their former self.

The Jasper was first introduced in 2008 as a predecessor to the Carver, a function-first climbing shoe that largely inspired its successor but was never introduced to the market. Instead, the Jasper took its place, borrowing elements from the Carver, like its tongue-to-toe lacing and minimal tooling, but repurposing the silhouette for more of a lifestyle context. Throughout the various generations of the Jasper, from the original to the Jasper Rocks and Zionic, the design language remains consistent. You can see the parallels from model to model. Despite the modifications, it is still clear what KEEN is trying to say: this is a Jasper, first and foremost.

In 2024, the Jasper Zionic seeks to keep the Jasper's legacy alive while bringing it up to a modern specification and broadening its applications for use in all conditions and environments. Designed with versatility in mind and coupling performance and style, the Jasper Zionic boasts a high-traction rubber outsole with an aggressive studded lug pattern for increased traction on all surfaces. The shoe has an athletic, contoured fit with tongue-to-toe lacing, ensuring secure and comfortable wear, while the heel crash pad absorbs impact and keeps you moving. From its deep-lugged lightweight ‘Fast Hiker’ sole to its contrasting smooth suede upper, the Jasper Zionic embodies the necessary components to ensure the legacy of the Jasper lives on.

KEEN’s recent project with Gramicci saw the pair use the Jasper Zionic as their silhouette of choice, highlighting how the model is an excellent canvas for collaborative expression - utilising a textured hairy suede instead of its signature smooth suede.

KEEN takes its signature consciously created approach to the design of the Jasper Zionic, opting to use ethically sourced suede leather from Leather Working Group-certified tanneries. In their ongoing journey toward a better planet, KEEN is committed to eliminating harmful PFAS chemicals helping protect precious water sources. In addition, KEEN outlines how the Jasper Zionic’s hybrid nature goes beyond just being a versatile sneaker, as it reduces the need for you to own multiple pairs of shoes when you can own one that serves several purposes. Once again, this marks KEEN’s ongoing commitment to reducing the imprint that footwear production has on the planet.

The Jasper Zionic celebrates KEEN's versatility, fusing classic brand styling with performance benefits inherited from modern silhouettes. While some people opt for certain styles for their versatility, KEEN’s footwear developers designed the Jasper Zionic specifically for this purpose: to reduce the need for you to own multiple pairs of shoes when one can do it all.

The Jasper Zionic is available now through www.keenfootwear.com and will be available in the coming months through top-tier stockists like Kith and Dover Street Market.

See the full editorial we’ve made to celebrate these silhouettes below.