South Korean football-based streetwear brand Over the Pitch and Japanese sports brand Mizuno have collaborated on a beautiful collection to celebrate the 40th anniversary of one of the world's most iconic football boots, the Morelia.
When South Korea’s culture-centric football outfit Over The Pitch link up with another brand, the results always land with pinpoint precision — stylish, meaningful, and deeply rooted in the game’s fabric. From Bayern Munich to tech game-changers Nothing and Tokyo’s underground tastemakers Younger Song, OTP have built a rep for collaborative heat. Now, they’re stepping into sacred territory — teaming up with Japanese stalwarts Mizuno to celebrate 40 years of one of the most iconic football boots ever made: the Morelia.
Mizuno’s Morelia isn’t just a boot. It’s a symbol. A beacon of craft, tradition and innovation. First laced up in 1985, the Morelia was born from a conversation between Musashi Mizushima — the first Japanese player to grace the Brazilian leagues — and Mizuno’s visionary developer Toshiyasu Yasui. Mizushima’s request? A boot light enough to fit in his suit pocket. Yasui delivered — and the rest is stitched into football folklore.
To mark four decades of featherlight finesse, Over The Pitch have taken that origin story and reimagined it through a contemporary lens. The result? A lifestyle-led collection that pays tribute to the boot’s journey while weaving in threads of vintage Mizuno styling and nostalgic football romance.
The design language is rich in heritage. Before Mizuno’s name became synonymous with elite football gear, the boots were first released under the ‘RunBird’ moniker — a nod to the original Mizuno logo, symbolising a bird in motion. That theme — movement, lightness, flight — runs right through the capsule. OTP riff on the concept of “Morelia, a football boot as light as a bird’s feather,” using avian imagery and retro RunBird graphics to full effect. Colourways reference the clubs where Mizushima plied his trade, while silhouettes echo the throwback fits of Mizuno’s ‘80s sportswear archive.
There’s also a direct nod to the commemorative Morelia product line released for the boot’s 40th — a new colour pack sits in the mix, bridging past and present with elegance and intent. This isn’t just merch — it’s myth-making. It's a celebration of one of football’s most storied silhouettes through the eyes of one of streetwear’s most exciting curators.
For Over The Pitch, this drop is another badge of honour. For Mizuno, it's a moment of reflection and reintroduction. And for fans of the beautiful game, it’s a reminder that true icons don’t just stand the test of time — they fly through it.
Collection available soon via OTP and select Mizuno retailers.
