Balenciaga Pace Sneaker in Black: A Moccasin-Style Sneaker for NYC That Folds Into a Mule

Balenciaga is selling a new low-profile sneaker called the Pace on its own website. It comes in black and in a faded brown colorway, and its shape is closer to a moccasin than to the chunky silhouettes the house has been known for.

The detail that matters most is at the back. The heel collapses, so the sneaker can be worn as a mule. That makes it a sneaker, a moccasin and a mule in one pair. Highsnobiety notes that two-in-one footwear has become close to standard, but still finds the idea appealing here.

The upper is calfskin, and pucker-toe stitching, the classic moccasin construction, runs around the toe. The lacing is set off-center, which adds the slightly skewed touch the brand is known for. The insoles are cork. Reports say they support the shoe's organic look and also help with arch support and shock absorption.

Both publications read the Pace as part of Balenciaga's shift toward more grounded footwear. Highsnobiety contrasts it with earlier deconstructed designs that leaned on high-fashion subversion and gritty streetwear, and ties the change to the earthier direction the house has taken under Pierpaolo Piccioli. Luxe Digital calls it a quieter statement than a platform sneaker and describes it as sitting at the more accessible end of the brand's footwear range.

The reported price is $995. The shoe is sold through balenciaga.com, and the US site lists it under the name Pace sneaker in black. For readers in Japan, shipping and duty terms for US orders depend on country and region.

(Details are drawn from points that agree across reports by Highsnobiety, Luxe Digital.)