Homer Simpson’s Customized Sneakers Sprint Out Of Springfield Into Real Life
Image via R.E.T.R.O. Clothing
The long-running animated show linked to an inadvertent trend of life imitating art has manifested another thing into fruition—only this time, the inspiration is purposeful. Independent label R.E.T.R.O. Clothing has brought The Simpsons’ fictional ‘ASSASSIN’ sneakers to life in homage of Homer.
The cartoon dad first set his sights on the dad shoes after spotting Ned Flanders rock them during a run in a season-two episode. You guys, the FOMO is real.
The ASSASSIN sneakers depicted in the series bear a water pump on the tongue, with iconic Velcro straps instead of a lacing system, and reflective sides. Perhaps the most important part, bringing the pair up to a price of $125 in the show, is the personalized nameplate on the heel. Ned, of course, had his customized with his own name.
The interpretation by R.E.T.R.O., short for Rocking Everything That’s Reminisced Of, tweaks the original colorway to reveal more yellow.
It also swaps out ‘Ned’ for ‘Homer’ on the heel nameplate, complete with The Simpsons-inspired typography.
And while the cartoon version bears a Nike swoosh on the side, the physical counterpart skirts around real-life legal repercussions by displaying an upside-down checkmark.
The remix also also doesn’t have the high-tech heartbeat reader that alerted Ned to stop talking to Homer and get back to his workout.
Unfortunately, Homer’s ASSASSINs were, well, assassinated by the dog in the animated show after the character finally got his hands on the kicks. D’oh!
If you’re careful and make sure to always keep your ASSASSINs within sight, you won’t suffer the same fate. A pair of The Simpsons-themed sneakers goes for US$180.
For more pop culture must-haves turned real, check out Nike’s AFC Richmond jerseys based on the team uniforms in Ted Lasso. The Simpsons enthusiasts might be tickled to know that Ned Flanders’ boat shoes—and even a walkable silhouette of Marge Simpsons’ hair—have been made by Adidas.
[via Sneaker News and R.E.T.R.O. Clothing, images via various sources]
