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- 84 - Concept sneakers
Welcome sports innovators to the future of sport.
Let’s talk about concept shoes. Ideas that seem so wacky and interesting that we can’t ignore. Concepts that could change the industry forever!!! Or at least that’s what designers and artists should do in our opinion.
FUTURE STAR
Modern Synthesis
We build upon 3.8 billion years of microbial evolution to craft an entirely new class of natural materials, which displace animal-and-fossil-fuel derived alternatives.
Invisible to the human eye, microbes naturally convert waste into valuable material building blocks. Inspired by their efficiency, Modern Synthesis is reinventing materials for a materially better future.
Their pioneering work has made it to sneakers.
Learn more here 👈🧠👀
GOT POTENTIAL
Heaven’s door
At the footwear’s heart is its simple low-tech opening and closing mechanism that relies on a wireless charging mat (keeping any and all tech out of the shoe itself to ensure a longer lifespan and the ability to be entirely resistant to water). The mat connects to a coil hidden in the shoe’s outsole, which then heats up to 70°C, causing the Nitinol spring to loosen and a set of expansion springs under the heel to pull on it, releasing the shoe’s rear flap backward almost like a drawbridge. This only lasts as long as the shoe is on the wireless mat. Step off it and the Nitinol cools back and begins assuming its original shape, pulling the rear flap shut.
Learn more here 👈🧠👀
ON THE BENCH
UV-Zhu
Artist tackling the shoe industry.
Learn more here 👈🧠👀
What do your team-mates think? 👨🏼👩🏾🦱👨🏻🦳👳🏿♂️👨🏾🦱
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COACH CORNER
Concept shoes. The lazy artists and designers choose the fantastical, shock and awe. Good for a moment, but never lasts. It doesn’t make us think, doesn’t make us dream, doesn’t inspire. Lazy!
If you are going to put something in a gallery then art is interpretive and you can evoke whichever feelings you desire as an artist. But when you are aiming to inspire a particular industry, then consider the wearer, the product designer, the brands of the future.
We are biased as product designers, of course. But we are hoping our words help creatives think deeper and harder. Because with this mindset, we will change the industry forever.
Modern synthesis - clearly smashing it!!! with their novel materials creation process. Heaven’s door - nitinol could be very useful for the shoe industry and fit is definitely the area we would choose but having to utilise a separate pad? Possibly not commercially viable but the idea made us think. Maybe body heat would be more creative with a lower-temp alloy. Utilise the upper / cuff to stimulate light compression benefits to improve blood flow would be our steer.
But simply placing a lot of things together into a “shoe” - nope! UV-Zhu’s other work like the below is inspirational, and we are urging the best creatives (UV-Zhu is in our opinion in the top 5) need to lead us forward to the future. We can help turn your dreams into a reality.
Learn more about us
Thanks for your support!!!! 🙌💕
Kitradar Ltd nor its employees advocate the use of any products on this email. Please do your own research and consult a relevant professional and/or physician before consuming or using any products listed
None of the content is sponsored, we simply love the work they do and think it will spark a little bit of inspiration over your coffee break. If something is sponsored in the future we will let you know!
PLAYBOOK
FUTURE STAR - Start-ups or innovators knocking it out of the park
GOT POTENTIAL - Good idea. Just needs few improvements to make it to the big leagues
ON THE BENCH - Back to the drawing board
COACH CORNER - Our views based on 20 years at the cutting edge of sport