By Jessica Ye (Jessica Yap)
A camouflage Bondi 7 inspired by Japanese Zen gardens? Now that caught our attention.
For its first-ever collaboration with BEAMS, HOKA has given its iconic Bondi 7 a Japanese streetwear treatment, marking the beginning of a new partnership between the two brands and BEAMS’ 50th anniversary.
The Bondi 7 comes in two colourways, Chestnut/Black Bean and Turtledove/Tidal Foam, with both taking their colours from the earthy tones of karesansui, Japan’s traditional dry landscape gardens, as well as the weathered timber found on historic Japanese temples.
Forget the usual green camouflage.
Here, the pattern is softer and much more subdued, allowing the chunky shape of the Bondi 7 to remain the star. The custom camouflage was created exclusively for the collaboration, with HOKA and BEAMS’ names worked discreetly into the pattern.
The familiar maximum-cushioning sole has also been kept intact, so there is no mistaking the shoe underneath all that new styling.
And that is probably the smartest thing about the collaboration.
BEAMS has not tried to redesign the Bondi 7 into something unrecognisable. Instead, it has played with the upper, colour and pattern to give an established HOKA silhouette a completely different look.
The Bondi 7 has already moved well beyond the running track. Its oversized sole and distinctive shape have made it a familiar sight on city streets, where performance footwear has become part of everyday dressing. BEAMS simply takes that idea further, bringing its own Japanese fashion sensibility into the mix.
The result is a sneaker that looks more at home with everyday clothes than the usual technical running gear, without losing the cushioning that made the Bondi 7 popular in the first place.
There is also something rather appropriate about the collaboration taking place in BEAMS’ 50th anniversary year.
The retailer opened its first shop in Tokyo in 1976, selling fashion and homeware in a tiny space before expanding into the wide-ranging fashion and lifestyle business it is today. Its stores now span Japan, with international locations in cities including Taipei, Hong Kong, Beijing and Bangkok.
Fifty years later, BEAMS is still finding new ways to mix fashion and everyday culture.
This time, the canvas happens to be one of HOKA’s most recognisable shoes.
The HOKA Bondi 7 x BEAMS is available in Chestnut/Black Bean and Turtledove/Tidal Foam exclusively at Limited Edt Vault & CHAMBER from 14 August 2026, priced at SGD $289.
