HOKA x XLIM Mafate Speed 2 Revealed
HOKA has partnered with Seoul-based design collective XLIM to reimagine the Mafate Speed 2 trail shoe, blending outdoor technical capability with architectural aesthetics. The collaboration explores the interplay between organic and built environments through material innovation and layered textures.
By Jordan Ellis
The partnership between HOKA and XLIM represents a deliberate crossing of disciplines—functional footwear meeting design philosophy. XLIM, the Korean brand known for synthesizing fashion, architecture, and spatial design, brings that multidisciplinary lens to one of HOKA's established trail silhouettes.
The Mafate Speed 2 serves as an ideal canvas for this collision. The shoe's existing platform already prioritizes responsiveness and terrain grip, qualities that demanded preservation here. Rather than override these technical foundations, XLIM applied its design language through material composition and surface treatment—exploring how natural and manufactured elements evolve over time, accumulate patina, and create visual depth.
The execution leans into tactile richness. Layered textiles, varied surface finishes, and tonal shifts across the upper create visual complexity that reads as intentional rather than ornamental. This is restraint deployed strategically—XLIM avoids aesthetic excess while maintaining the shoe's trail-ready DNA.
Design Direction
The conceptual framework—examining tension between organic and artificial—informs material selection without compromising performance. Grip, cushioning response, and weight remain calibrated for the trail, while the visual presentation signals design thoughtfulness.
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Release Info
Product: HOKA x XLIM Mafate Speed 2
Availability: Now available
Retail Price: TBD
Where to Buy: HOKA, XLIM, select retailers
Details on specific colorways, exact pricing, and global distribution remain forthcoming.
