Mizuno Sportstyle is reaching back into its archives for the return of the MG4, a silhouette that pays tribute to legendary designer Tuan Lee and the period many regard as the brand’s “Design Golden Age”.
Instead of introducing an entirely new model, Mizuno is reworking a classic from its own history. Originally designed by Lee as a complementary silhouette to Mizuno’s elevated Y2K running range, the MG4 now returns with its original design language intact while being repositioned for a more contemporary urban lifestyle.
Lee’s time within Mizuno’s Design Studio produced a number of silhouettes that helped define an important era for the brand. The MG4 sits within that lineage, offering another look at the experimental approach, technical details and distinctive proportions that characterised Mizuno’s designs during the period.
From the Archive to Amsterdam
For its return, Mizuno Sportstyle places the MG4 wifhin the present day. The accompanying campaign heads to Amsterdam during the height of summer, capturing the city through a more spontaneous, youth-driven lens.
Friends meet after work, bicycles replace public transport and people move between industrial spaces, with the city providing a backdrop for everyday moments that define the contemporary urban culture.
Meet the MG4 OG
The MG 4 OG stays closest to the silhouette’s original identity, leaning into the nostalgic design codes that made Lee’s work so distinctive. It comes in two colourways: White / Artisan’s Gold / Galaxy Silver and Cloudscape / Royal Lilac / Galaxy Silver.
Both versions feature a semi-clear detail that directly references the archival tooling that originally helped establish the MG4. The combination of classic tones, metallic detailing and the translucent elements gives the OG a distinctive Y2K-inspired finish.
The MG4 Tech Pushes the Formula Forward
Where the OG looks back, the MG4 Tech takes the same foundation and pushes it forward into a more contemporary direction.
The first colourway is a Black / Iron Gate / Metallic Gray, creating a darker interpretation of Lee’s original design. The second moves towards a more futuristic aesthetic with Foggy Dew / Harbor Mist / Silver, finished with a grey midsole for an added technical edge.
The Tech versions demonstrate how relevant Lee’s original design language remains decades later.
Four Colourways, One Design Legacy
Together, the four releases tell two sides of the same story. The OG celebrates the nostalgia and design history surrounding Tuan Lee’s work, while the Tech interpretation takes the foundations somewhere more directional.
Mizuno Sportstyle MG4 Release Information
The collection comprises four models, each priced at €140 / £120, which are available from the 21st of August 2026 at Mizuno’s website and selected retailers.
