Li-Ning’s may be known for their colourful kicks, oftentimes in fluorescent or candy-wrapper brights, but they are less recognised for their fashion-forward hues. The Dilu V2 may change that

Li-Ning ( 李宁) is back on our shores after an absence of about 12 years. They closed their last outlet at ION Orchard in 2012, together with the head office here in Tai Seng (which was also the “regional HQ”). Quite an exit it was. At the time, Li-Ning reported untenable losses, considered by the media as a “sharp reversal of fortune”. The operations here were deemed unsustainable. While the brand’s badminton kicks and attendant clothing continue to be available here through other retailers, their sports style offerings were no where to be seen, until now. SOTD understands that the new Li-Ning retail stores are operated by the Chinese parent company—a sportswear group that also operates clothing brands licensed to it, such as the French outdoor label Aigle and the American dance wear Danskin.

At the over-one-month-old Li-Ning store in Bugis+ (another in Plaza Singapura opened in mid-October, one more fashion-centric than the other), a particular pair of kicks caught our eye: the Dilu V2 trail running shoe. Li-Ning has created some compelling sneakers through the years with fairly out there details not usually associated with Chinese sneakers, but this particular pair has chromatic advantage going for it: A dark, almost leafy green, knit upper and sole that is in sorbet pink! The Duli V2, a third iteration after the OG and then a Pro, is a trail sneaker with serious fashion cred. When we saw the shoes, we thought of the Marni ’fits we have in our wardrobe. Yes, it’s the off-beat two tone and a combination that athletes generally avoid.

The Dilu V2 is surprisingly light. It could be the fairly loose-weave knit upper, which Li-Ning describes as “multi-density Boom Fiber material (likely a polyester blend)”. The foamy sole is fashioned from cast polyurethane (CPU), which feels rather bouncy underfoot. There is almost no overlay on the upper, therefore contributing to its welcome lightness. In sum, the Dilu V2 is a handsome sneaker that would likely meet trail terrains less frequently than city pavements. Interestingly, that was the only sneaker that spoke to us. A tad surprising since Li-Ning is the only Chinese sports brand that has staged shows during New York Fashion Week and Paris Fashion Week. They know the relevance of fashion-tinged sense of appealing. At the moment, in the stores here, that does not come in spades. Perhaps, not yet

Li-Ning Dilu V2 trail running shoe, SGD190, is available at the Li-Ning store, Bugis+. Photo: Zhao Xiangji