Former Giant Victor Cruz has launched the V.C.II, his second collection of Pierre Hardy sneakers.
Victor Cruz has always had good footwork.
At the 2010 NFL Combine, the UMass wideout finished his workouts with a vertical leap right over 41 inches and a 4.45 40-yard dash. Despite a set of springs and a solid foundation, Cruz’s name was not called at that year’s NFL Draft.
In the years to follow, Cruz’s fast feet and fancy footwork led to his name being called. A lot. In 2011, Cruz caught 82 passes and set a franchise record for 1,536 yards receiving. He started 2012 with a Super Bowl win, finishing the fall with another 1,000-yard season and 10 touchdowns.
Over the course of Cruz’s six seasons as a Giant, the standout wideout became a fixture of New York’s renowned fashion scene, often attending shows in both the Big Apple and abroad.
Cruz’s flash on the field and style sense off of it made him the catalyst for a signature sneaker with Nike, the launch of his clothing line Young Whales, and a seeding subject for high profile brands worldwide.
By living the world of runway while excelling at football, his post-playing pivot proved perfect. Not long after he hung up his cleats, French fashion designer Pierre Hardy hit up Cruz to collaborate on a range of luxury sneakers.
The pairs were so popular that Hardy has called on Cruz once again.
Releasing in time for the holiday season, the Victor Cruz x Pierre Hardy V.C.II launch brings a four sneaker uni-sex collection that follows his first foray with the brand in 2019.
This sequel capsule noticeably revises the design language seen on their debut project, yet remains led by the same storytelling and luxury composition.
The collection is led by a mid-top makeup of the V.C.II, inspired by the Black Lives Matter Movement.
Dubbed the “Majesty,” the totally tonal pair is presented in calf leather composition with pebbled detailing, zig-zag ribbon and strapped support.
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Three low top pairs, named “Boricua,” “Tribe,” and “Survivor,” speak to Cruz’s Puerto Rican roots, family ties, and fight for social justice.
“Victor is a dandy,” Pierre Hardy said on the label’s website. “He’s very picky. He focuses on every detail from the quality of the laces to the length of a stitch or the shade of a color. The process was similar to tuning a car. I wanted Victor to express himself freely.”
The Victor Cruz x Pierre Hardy V.C.II collection is available now at Pierre Hardy.
