Shoe Palace x New Balance X Racer “Year of the Rat”

Chinese New Year 2020 is set to kick off soon, so Shoe Palace and New Balance have joined forces for an X Racer “Year of the Rat.” Drawing its inspiration from the wealth and prosperity that the rat represents in Chinese culture, these highly detailed sneakers are a top-to-bottom tribute to one of the biggest holidays on the country’s calendar.

With a shape and construction inspired by under-the-radar ’90s New Balance running silhouettes, the X Racer presents a sleek lifestyle look with a healthy dose of modern-day technical style. Here, it’s dressed in a combination of black, tan and brown synthetics, suedes and meshes. This elegant base is quickly accented by bright pops of red on the laces and collar’s stitching. A gold rat appears printed on the tongue, a dual-density ABZORB foam midsole offers long-lasting cushioning and a gum outsole finalizes the stylings.

This festive inspiration carries over to the accents and even the packaging. Extra laces are packaged in a red envelope for a nod to the omnipotent red CNY cards that contain cold, hard cash. The shoes themselves are then encased in a special tin box that’s rife with unique embellishments, making for a celebration both inside and out.

The Shoe Palace x New Balance X Racer “Year of the Rat” will release exclusively at Shoe Palace on January 25, the start of Chinese New Year. The MSRP is set at $110 USD — a veritable bargain, considering the special packaging.

If you prefer hoops to holidays check out Nike, Jordan Brand and Converse‘s extensive NBA All-Star collection, consisting of a staggering 18 silhouettes.