Image Source: PR Times and Japan Today
I have to admit, I haven’t checked for Le Coq Sportif as much as I should have. The shoes have no real presence at brick and mortar locations in my region, and to be honest I haven’t really thought about the brand since Joakim Noah rocked them early in his career as Chicago Bull (Yep, Noah endorsed Le Coq Sportif… which makes sense when you consider his dad wore the brand and he is French).
According to Trendhunter, “In celebration of a milestone year, Japanese noodle chain Tenkaippin teamed up with French manufacturer le coq sportif on a pair of limited-edition ramen-inspired sneakers. The unique footwear design was inspired by the ingredients that go into making the chain’s ramen ingredients and bowls.” This is intriguing as the collaborative effort here combines two brands, while the Saucony Ramen is a celebration of the dish itself and doesn’t have any cross promotion.
The Top 40 Sneakers of 2017 | #7 Saucony Grid 8500 Ramen – ARCH-USA
In 2017, Saucony’s model made my top 40 sneakers list. You can probably guess which side of the discussion I fall on in regard to this Versus. While the packaging and details on the Le Coq Sportif feel more authentic, there is a bit of kitsch quality to the sneaker. Saucony delivers a shoe that feels more elevated in its design… but that’s not the goal here. Which brand delivered the better concept?