iRi NYC Introduces the GROOVY Collection

SEPTEMBER 25, 2026 → WORDS ADRIÁN GOMIS EXPÓSITO

New York-based footwear label iRi NYC steps into a new chapter with GROOVY, its eighth collection and most technically advanced release to date. Designed in New York and handcrafted in South Korea, the collection brings together the brand’s playful visual language with a major innovation: the patented Groovy Outsole™. 

Inspired by founder and Creative Director Janet Yeung’s childhood picture diaries and the uninhibited creativity of her early years, GROOVY embraces bold forms, expressive colour and a sense of movement that feels unmistakably iRi. At its core, the new outsole is engineered for lightness, flexibility and durability, while its recycled EVA construction makes it three times lighter than the brand’s existing Wavy Outsole, weighing roughly as much as a single banana.

PHOTOGRAPHY SOYEON CHIN STYLING ONE VISUAL TALENT SHIN HAIR & MAKE-UP YEONSOO PARK RETOUCH OFF OG ILLUSTRATION IRI

The technical advances continue throughout the collection, with iRi NYC placing recycled and bio-based materials at the centre of its construction. Uppers are woven from yarns made from post-consumer plastic bottles, while recycled leather is used across selected components and castor oil-based biomaterials form the insoles. The result is a collection that pairs playful design with a more considered approach to footwear production, without relying on petroleum-based synthetics. GROOVY also marks an important expansion for the brand, introducing men’s sizing for the first time, alongside women’s sizes, with the collection available in women’s US 5–12 and men’s US 7–12. 

More than simply a new sneaker release, GROOVY reflects iRi’s ongoing interest in combining technical innovation, individuality and a little bit of fun. Available now at irinyc.com.