KITH: The Footwear Archive Puts 15 Years of Kith Sneakers Into a 444-Page Book
KITH: The Footwear Archive turns 15 years of Ronnie Fieg’s footwear history into a massive 444-page Assouline book. Created to celebrate Kith’s 15th anniversary, the publication documents more than 1,800 collaborative models, unreleased shoes and developmental prototypes spanning partnerships with adidas, ASICS, Clarks Originals, Moncler, New Balance, Nike, On, Timberland and more.
Photographed in its entirety by longtime Kith collaborator Tyler Mansour, the book traces the category that helped establish Fieg and Kith as major forces in footwear and streetwear. The first half individually documents 700 publicly released pairs, while the second dives deeper into Fieg’s personal archive, revealing prototypes, developmental samples and alternate executions that offer a look at how some of Kith’s most memorable footwear projects came together.
KITH: The Footwear Archive Documents More Than 1,800 Pairs
Conceived as a catalogue raisonné, KITH: The Footwear Archive pulls together footwear from across the brand’s 15-year history. Its 1,800-plus models cover collaborations with some of the biggest names in sneakers and fashion, including Nike, New Balance, adidas, ASICS, Clarks Originals, Timberland, Moncler and On.
At 444 pages, it is also the largest volume in Assouline’s Classics Collection to date. The scale alone is impressive, but what separates the project from a conventional sneaker retrospective is how much attention is given to the process behind the finished shoes. While 700 released pairs receive dedicated studio photography, the remainder of the archive gives readers access to footwear that was previously seen only behind the scenes.
That means the book doesn’t simply show what Kith sold. It documents how ideas evolved before consumers ever saw the final product.
The Archive Reveals What Never Made Retail
The second half of the book digs into Fieg’s collection of prototypes, developmental samples and unreleased footwear, placing those designs alongside the finished models that eventually reached stores.
Among the early pages previewed are alternate and developmental versions connected to silhouettes including the Nike Air Pippen 1, Maestro 2 High, LeBron 15 and Air Force 1, along with the BAPE STA and New Balance 997 and 530.
For longtime followers of Fieg’s work, that behind-the-scenes material could be the real attraction. Finished collaborations tell one part of Kith’s history, but prototypes show the decisions, revisions and ideas that came before them.
That developmental history is what gives KITH: The Footwear Archive value beyond simple nostalgia. Instead of serving only as a catalog of grails from years past, the book offers a closer look at the creative process that helped shape Kith’s footwear identity.
The Ultimate Edition Is Limited to 300 Copies
Kith and Assouline are releasing the project in Classic and Ultimate editions, with the latter aimed directly at collectors.
Limited to just 300 individually numbered copies, the Ultimate Edition is signed by Ronnie Fieg and housed inside a black leather clamshell case finished with an all-over debossed Kith monogram. The presentation turns the archive itself into the type of collectible object expected from both Kith and Assouline.
The Classic Edition keeps the focus on the book and its extensive footwear photography, while the Ultimate Edition adds another level of exclusivity to a project already centered on rare designs and previously unseen material.
Kith Is Putting the Entire Footwear Archive on Display
Before the book officially launches, Kith is taking the archive off the page and putting it in front of the public.
From September 25 through September 27, Kith will host an exhibition at 25 Kent Avenue in Brooklyn featuring the footwear documented in the book. The event marks the first time the archive has been displayed publicly on this scale, and visitors will also have an opportunity to purchase the Classic Edition ahead of its wider release.
The exhibition runs daily from noon to 6 p.m., giving sneaker collectors an unusually deep look into the footwear history that helped build Kith before the book arrives globally.
The Classic Edition of KITH: The Footwear Archive officially launches September 30, 2026, exactly 15 years after Kith was founded, through Kith stores worldwide, Kith.com and the Kith App. Select Assouline boutiques are expected to receive the Classic Edition beginning December 9, while the 300-copy Ultimate Edition launches September 30 through select Assouline locations.
For Kith, the book isn’t simply a record of the sneakers that reached shelves. With more than 1,800 released models, unreleased designs, Friends & Family pairs and developmental concepts represented, KITH: The Footwear Archive documents the experimentation and decision-making behind 15 years of footwear.
