Links may be affiliated.
AFEW has a habit of building sneakers around ideas that have nothing to do with sneakers. Its first two Saucony collabs came from a German poet and Albert Einstein, and the third comes from a wasp. The ProGrid Omni 9 “Tara Hawk” is the Düsseldorf boutique’s latest Saucony project, and it’s the one that looks most like its muse, with panels that shift between purple, teal, and gold depending on the light.
The tarantula hawk is a spider wasp that hunts tarantulas, and it’s notorious for an intensely painful sting. AFEW’s version translates that into materials rather than graphics. The upper layers a gradient honeycomb mesh in pink, orange, and yellow over a dark graphite base. An iridescent translucent cage wraps the medial side, and a clear heel window and a color-shifting overlay on the heel extend the effect. A furry collar sits around the ankle, the tongue carries an iridescent bubble with “AFEW” on it, and orange shows up on the outsole as a nod to the insect’s wings. Saucony’s logo is outlined in teal on the side, and the sockliner features a teal swirl design. Three extra pairs of laces in teal, magenta, and a silver-flecked magenta come in its iridescent shoebox.
The Omni 9 itself is a good fit for the idea. It’s an archival runner Saucony has kept in rotation as a retro lifestyle shoe, and its layered design gives the materials plenty of room to work.
The previous two collabs were just as conceptual. In 2017, AFEW’s Shadow Master 5000 “Goethe” took its pink and grey palette from the Goethe Museum near the shop and printed poetry on the heels, laces and lining. The 2020 Shadow 5000 “Time & Space” riffed on Einstein’s time in Princeton, with formulas scribbled across a glow-in-the-dark midsole.
Saucony’s Jason Faustino, senior director of global energy, said AFEW has a unique ability to turn unexpected inspiration into compelling sneaker storytelling.
“The ProGrid Omni 9 gave us an exciting canvas to bring the tarantula hawk concept to life through color, texture, and material, while staying true to the distinct design language of the silhouette,” says Faustino.
The AFEW x Saucony ProGrid Omni 9 “Tara Hawk” releases first on November 7th through the AFEW website. Saucony’s global launch follows on November 13th at 11am ET on Saucony.com and at select retailers. Check out the pair below.
AFEW x Saucony ProGrid Omni 9 “Tara Hawk”
Color: Black/Multi-Color
Style Code: S71049-1
Release Date: November 7, 2026 (AFEW)
Release Date: November 13, 2026 (Saucony)
Price: $195 USD
