Top Secret: Saucony Azura 2000

Bradley Martinez
Jun 21, 2021
2 min read

Updated: Jul 28, 2021

What ever happened to the love people used to show Saucony back in 2012/13/14? A brand rich with collaboration from stores such as Footpatrol, WestNYC, END, Extra Butter and many more.

It’s a shame to see brands like this not get the love they once did. Though who’s to say that they can’t again one day? They may not be as big as Nike, but the brand has a heap load of history that has had an impact on things I think are bigger than a lot of other brands out there today.

To give you an idea – Prior Saucony’s success, a brand called Hyde Athletic Industries existed. This brand was founded by a Russian Immigrant named A.R Hyde in 1898, who later acquired Saucony in 1968, a year before the first moon landing. They then went on to adopt the brand name in the 1980s. They even produced the first moon boots worn by Neil Armstrong which featured the Hyde Athletic Stamp. It doesn’t get much better than that…

The Saucony brand name actually stems from the creek where the original factory sat in 1898, Saucony Creek, named after the local Native Americans. The creek also inspired their logo representing the flow of water, whilst the 3 dots referenced the boulders that lay at the bottom of the creek.

Moving back to the image featured in this post. The Azura 2000 has never been a shoe that’s grabbed the limelight, mainly down to the fact that only up until recently (last 1/2 years) this shoe technically never existed and was often played out as though it never happened. Whilst working on a new design in the late 80s/90s, an image of the Azura was mistakenly attached to the new products file.

At the time, the shoe was nothing like anything the brand had done before. Slimmer, lightweight, hits of almost transparent mesh. The Azura 2000 was built to deflect the impact made with your foot by using the brands’ signature GRID technology. There is evidence that this shoe had been in the works from as early as 1986, where there were plans on making an advanced performance research facility which became operational in 1988. A top-secret lab where special one-off projects like these were done.

Pair Breakdown - This rendition of the Azura 2000 produced by END, is inspired by the human brain. Pairing the panelling of the shoe alongside the colour palette and mix of materials, such as suede, leather and mesh underlays, creates a brain-like effect and texture. Overall a really well executed design. The shoe also features a nice touch with the dual branded tongue tab with brain graphic, detailed innersole and embroidered logos on the side walls and heel.

FUN FACT - The 3 dots on the logo each have their own meaning. From top to bottom; Good Performance, Good Health and Good Communities.