Rick Owens x Maxfield turn Vintage Pirarucu Sneakers into Blacked Out Collector Pieces​

RICK OWENS X MAXFIELD has turned a niche material into one of the most talked‑about luxury sneaker drops of 2025, with the “Vintage Sneaks” collaboration limited to just 24 pairs worldwide. This capsule bridges archival sneaker culture, experimental materials, and art‑grade scarcity in a way that feels very true to both brands.

First‑ever footwear collaboration

The project, officially titled “Vintage Sneaks by Rick Owens for Maxfield,” marks MAXFIELD’s first‑ever exclusive footwear collaboration with RICK OWENS, despite the store having supported the designer for nearly three decades. The shoes, released in December 2025, offered across both men’s and women’s sizing, reinforcing that this is a unisex collector’s piece rather than a standard seasonal drop.

Available pairs are sold exclusively through MAXFIELD LOS ANGELES, MAXFIELD MALIBU, and the retailer’s e‑commerce site, underscoring the boutique‑driven nature of the project. That tight distribution makes the sneaker feel more like a gallery edition than a mass luxury launch.

Design language and construction

The silhouette is built at an under‑ankle height with eight eyelets, structured toe caps and a triangular leather appliqué on the side, sitting on RICK OWENS’ signature shark‑toothed bumper sole. This sole instantly anchors the shoe within the designer’s established universe, even as the upper material pushes into new territory.

Inside, a custom red insole printed with both RICK OWENS and MAXFIELD branding turns even the interior into a storytelling moment. That detail functions almost like an artist’s proof stamp, reminding the wearer that this is a numbered‑feel, one‑time collaboration.

Pirarucu leather and material storytelling

Instead of conventional leather, the sneaker is crafted in black pirarucu leather, sourced from one of the world’s largest freshwater fish, native to the Amazon basin. The skin is known for its thick, scaled texture and has historically been used more in cowboy boots than in sneakers, which makes its appearance on a low‑top lifestyle shoe especially striking.

In black, the pirarucu’s naturally dramatic pattern becomes more subtle but still visible, giving the upper a glistening, almost armor‑like finish when the light hits. This choice aligns with RICK OWENS’ ongoing interest in unconventional, sometimes challenging luxury materials that sit at the edge of the familiar and the experimental.

Scarcity, hype and cultural impact

Only 24 pairs of the RICK OWENS X MAXFIELD “Vintage Sneaks” exist worldwide, split across men’s and women’s size runs. That ultra‑limited quantity effectively positions the sneaker as a wearable art object, appealing to archive collectors, dedicated RICK OWENS fans, and high‑end resellers alike.

Because RICK OWENS rarely designs collaborative mainline shoes—reserving most partnerships for sportswear names like CONVERSE and MONCLER—this project stands out as a significant moment for the brand’s footwear line. For MAXFIELD, it cements the store’s status as a long‑term champion of boundary‑pushing luxury, able to secure exclusives that go beyond simple colorways into genuinely bespoke products.

How to buy and why it matters

Pairs are being offered through MAXFIELD’s LOS ANGELES and MALIBU boutiques and online, with some coverage noting that customers can request access or purchase via engagement on MAXFIELD’s official launch content. With only 24 units total, most buyers will likely be long‑standing clients or extremely fast‑moving sneaker collectors tracking the drop in real time.