XLIM Debuts First HOKA Collab, Reworks Mafate Speed 2 for Streetwear

XLIM did not treat HOKA’s Mafate Speed 2 like a souvenir from the trail. The Seoul label stripped the shoe back, dressed it in hairy suede, and pushed it into streetwear territory with two clean colorways, all-black and a saturated blue that lands right in Yves Klein Blue range.

The result is XLIM’s first collaboration with HOKA, and it feels pointed rather than novelty-driven. The Mafate Speed 2 already comes with serious performance hardware, including HOKA’s Active Foot Frame, Meta-Rocker geometry, deep flex grooves and a 5mm Vibram Mega-Grip tread built for technical terrain. XLIM kept that rugged foundation intact, then softened the read with texture and restraint. The minimal branding matters here. It keeps the shoe from looking like a loud crossover and makes it feel like something you could actually wear every day without broadcasting that you bought the collaboration.

That balance is exactly where Dohee Kim has been steering XLIM. Kim has said the brand is about making practical, wearable pieces that fuse function and style in everyday life, and this HOKA pair fits that thesis neatly. XLIM was founded in 2021, and it has been moving deeper into footwear with intent, including a New Balance 509 project earlier in 2025. The HOKA partnership shows the brand is not just experimenting with sneakers for the sake of it. It is trying to own the lane where technical design and niche taste overlap.

The timing also made sense. XLIM scheduled the Mafate Speed 2 release for April 18, 2026, through its physical store and web shop, keeping the drop tight and direct. That kind of controlled rollout suits a sneaker like this, which has enough performance credibility for trail heads and enough visual discipline for the kids who care more about silhouette, material and color than hype noise. In a market crowded with overdesigned collabs, XLIM’s version stands out by doing less, but doing it with better taste.