Tag Archives: footwear

Move Over Yeezy, These Nature & Geometry-inspired Foam Runners Have Our Hearts And Eyes

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Looking like something out of a cyberverse, the EXPLR 02 are a pair of 3D-printed runners that combine organic shapes with a geometric grid to create something unusually beautiful. “Inspired by modern geometric structures and nature’s patterns of repetition, 02 is an exploration of creating distorted yet organized chaos,” says designer Matthew Blunt. The shoe’s unique design also pushes the limits of 3D printing, which is perhaps the only possible manufacturing process one could use to prototype the concept.

Designer: Matthew Blunt

The shoe’s eye-catching design has some incredibly noteworthy details that make it quite a wonderful example for footwear enthusiasts and future designers. The grid-shaped outer body gives the shoe its breathability and flexibility – although it isn’t necessarily suited for dirty paths or gravel roads, just indoors, perhaps. Wearing the shoe is easy as your foot slips right on, with a heel tab that lets you pull the shoe upwards as you slip it on. Ankle and toe cutouts give the shoe an interesting visual effect as they cause the grid to contort around the cutouts, warping to make the shoe pattern more eye-catching.

What’s the most interesting is by far the shoe’s inner sole, which remains the only solid part of the entire footwear. While the entire shoe’s form is dominated by grids, the inner sole acts as a single solid platform, separating the upper half of the shoe from the lower half. In fact, the lower half isn’t solid either, but was purposely left hollow, giving you a pillow-like air-gap between the outsole and the inner sole. What this would do for the shoe’s actual functionality remains to be seen, but for the designer, this was the fastest, easiest, and most interesting way to build out a prototype.

Given its name, the EXPLR 02 is still an exploration on Blunt’s part, who is an LA-based industrial designer, having worked with Nike and Rivian in the past. Blunt also tried experimenting with colors, going for a more vibrant selection as compared to the Yeezy Foam Runners that stick to more neutral hues in the beige family. Blunt’s EXPLR series aren’t for sale, but hopefully he’ll make the CAD files available to designers who can then experiment with materials and mods to make the shoes more industrially feasible and consumer-friendly.

An FDM 3D printed prototype shoes the shoes without the inner sole

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Top 10 unique + futuristic footwear sneakerheads should grab today

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With our hectic lives which pretty much involve us running around all day, the right footwear can make a world of difference. Shoes started off as functional designs meant to protect our feet, and yes we need to pick ones that do exactly that, BUT, they should also reflect our style statements and represent our personality and our personal fashion sense. After all, don’t they say that you can tell a lot about a man by the state of his shoes? Personally, I love a good pair of sturdy and stylish sneakers, ones that can get me through the day without giving me any shoe bites, and also match my outfits. However, I do know that this isn’t the case with everybody. People have high demands and expectations when it comes to their footwear, hence designers are unleashing all of their creative juices, leaving no stones unturned in making unique, innovative, and ergonomic shoes. From the world’s first net-zero carbon shoe to Marvel x Nike Football sneakers – these footwear designs are as futuristic, inventive, and fashionable as they can get!

1. The M0.0NSHOT

Allbirds launched the M0.0NSHOT – the world’s first net carbon shoe at the Global Fashion Summit in Copenhagen on June 27th. The shoes have a net carbon footprint of net 0.0 kg CO2e, and have a minimal all-grey woolly sock-style trainer form with an upper made from regenerative wool, and a bioplastic midsole. It is supposed to be one of the most sustainable mass-produced shoes we’ve seen till now!

2. Marvel x Nike Football Sneakers

Paul Parsons managed to concoct the ultimate Marvel X Nike football sneakers using MidJournye’s AI. These innovative sneakers successfully capture the grandeur of some of the MCU’s most memorable heroes and antiheroes. The series features 9 different footwear models, dedicated to distinct characters from the Avengers movie and Wolverine as well!

3. Rewild the Run Sneakers

Kiki Grammatopoulos, a graduate of the London University Central Saint Martins, designed a unique running shoe that spreads plants and seeds in cities. The massive outsoles are inspired by bison hoofs and are designed to encourage people to get involved with the cause of rewilding and to prompt a broader and deeper reevaluation of our relationship with nature.

4. The Ultimas

Outdoor equipment brand Cub Cadet designed limited edition shoes called The Ultimate Lawn Mowing Shoes or The Ultimas. The black and yellow pair of shoes perfectly complement the Ultima Series lawn mower that was previously released by the brand and is intended for people who want to wear a cool pair of kicks while mowing their lawns.

5. EXPLR 02

Matthew Blunt designed the EXPLR 02 – a pair of shoes that look like the wireframe you see in 3D modeling software, although it has an even higher resolution and a number of empty spaces. The design takes inspiration from the nature of those digital artifacts. Repeating patterns, organic forms, and an almost chaotic composition all come together to create footwear that is both beautiful and intriguing.

6. Lamborghini Performance Sneakers

Designer Hussain Almossawi designed these super cool Lamborghini Performance Sneakers as a tribute to the automotive icon’s 60-year legacy. The sneakers perfectly capture the company’s raging-bull design aesthetic, while creating an edgy and innovative piece of footwear with excellent surface treatment and drool-worthy glowing details around the midsole and the outsole.

7. The Heaven’s Door

The Heaven’s Door is a unique pair of sneakers with a close-toe design and an open-ish ankle aesthetic, much like a slip-on sandal. The shoe features a leather body, punctuated by an elastic strap along the side, which connects the rear flap to the main shoe. It has a rubber outsole that is pretty comfortable for outdoor use in an urban environment, while also subtly hiding the springs in a recessed channel running along the length of the shoe.

8. AC1 Boot

Designed by Brooklyn-based mischief makers MSCHF, the Ac1 Boot is designed to explore the lighter and fun side of hopping around in walking boots that are intended for rehabilitation from a foot injury. The designer got the idea for the sneakers when he saw a person walking in medical boots down Prince Street in New York.

9. Modern Synthesis’s Shoes

Modern Synthesis is using bacteria to create a pair of shoes! The biotechnology company is now looking at growing or cultivating “microbial textiles” in its laboratory and using this to create a more sustainable material for shoes and other kinds of footwear. They are using the sugar you can derive from plant waste and microbes and then turn it into nanocellulose.

10. UV-Zhu’s Nike Conceptual Series

UV-Zhu’s Nike conceptual series are basically inflatable structures paired up with daily objects resulting in kicks that you would probably never see at the Nike showroom. The ankle straps are made from white garters, silicone, and paper-based tapes. The outsoles have been power-packed with springs so that they can allow the wearer, to walk without actually putting any effort into walking!

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Allbirds unveils “world’s first net-zero carbon shoe” with regenerative wool upper and bioplastic sole

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A couple of months ago Allbirds announced the M0.0NSHOT – the world’s first net carbon shoe. Although there are quite a few net carbon shoes out there made from traditional and natural materials, this shoe is the first of its kind in the commercial shoe industry. The minimal, all-grey sneaker is set to have a carbon footprint of net 0.0 kg CO2e and is supposed to be one of the most sustainable mass-produced shoes we’ve seen till now! The shoe was announced in March, but it was finally unveiled at the Global Fashion Summit in Copenhagen on June 27th, we’re quite excited to dive deeper into it!

Designer: Allbirds

The Moonshot is an interesting-looking woolly sock-style trainer that features a bioplastic sole, and an upper made using regenerative wool. The wool was produced on a regenerative farm in New Zealand, which employs sustainable land management practices to ensure it captures more carbon than it produces. “Regenerative wool was a critical pillar of helping us reimagine how products are designed and made through the lens of carbon reduction,” said co-founder Tim Brown. “To me, the currently untapped opportunity for naturally derived, net-zero products is the future of fashion.”

Quite interestingly, the company has open-sourced the design and manufacturing process behind Moonshot with their ‘Recipe B0.0K’, which provides detailed information on the materials, manufacturing, transportation, end-of-life, and carbon footprint calculation behind the shoes. It is an excellent initiative to encourage and motivate the production of sustainable footwear, by sharing their secrets with other manufacturers, and quite literally simplifying the process for them. “It is also about ushering in a new age of ‘hyper-collaboration’ across brands and industries to share best practices, build scale for all parts of the supply chain, to reward growers and lower costs,” Brown continued.

The high-top design of the shoe and its cozy bootie-sneaker style are respectful of AllBirds’ signature style, to maintain and strengthen the connection with the company’s fan base. The carbon-negative regenerative wool upper is complemented by a carbon-negative bio-based midsole foam made using sugarcane and created via supercritical foaming. The logo was made using methane-capture bioplastic through a partnership with Mango Materials. And the packaging for the shoes was produced from sugarcane-based polyethylene, a carbon-negative material that cuts down on the weight and space needed for transportation. All in all, the impressively sustainable sock trainers seem to be paving a new path in the world of footwear!

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Top 5 futuristic footwear designs for sneakerheads to go gaga over

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With our hectic lives which pretty much involve us running around all day, the right footwear can make a world of difference. Shoes started off as functional designs meant to protect our feet, and yes we need to pick ones that do exactly that, BUT, they should also reflect our style statements and represent our personality and our personal fashion sense. After all, don’t they say that you can tell a lot about a man by the state of his shoes? Personally, I love a good pair of sturdy and stylish sneakers, ones that can get me through the day without giving me any shoe bites, and also match my outfits. However, I do know that this isn’t the case with everybody. People have high demands and expectations when it comes to their footwear, hence designers are unleashing all of their creative juices, leaving no stones unturned in making unique, innovative, and ergonomic shoes. From Balenciaga high-heel sneakers to Marvel x Nike Football sneakers – these footwear designs are as futuristic, inventive, and fashionable as they can get!

1. Marvel x Nike Football Sneakers

Paul Parsons managed to concoct the ultimate Marvel X Nike football sneakers using MidJournye’s AI. These innovative sneakers successfully capture the grandeur of some of the MCU’s most memorable heroes and antiheroes. The series features 9 different footwear models, dedicated to distinct characters from the Avengers movie and Wolverine as well!

2. Balenciaga High-heel Sneakers

Designed by Ollie of OBJ Studio this fantastic Balenciaga high-heel footwear concept was created while paying heed to potential future technologies. “In this Balenciaga concept, [current] manufacturing boundaries and constraints were excluded, with freedom and imagination leading the way”, Ollie of OJB Studio told Yanko Design. “This process enables a fast and efficient way of experimental aesthetic ideation, providing some rather wild, yet desirable designs.”

3. EXPLR 02

Matthew Blunt designed the EXPLR 02 – a pair of shoes that look like the wireframe you see in 3D modeling software, although it has an even higher resolution and a number of empty spaces. The design takes inspiration from the nature of those digital artifacts. Repeating patterns, organic forms, and an almost chaotic composition all come together to create footwear that is both beautiful and intriguing.

4. Modern Synthesis’s Shoes

Modern Synthesis is using bacteria to create a pair of shoes! The biotechnology company is now looking at growing or cultivating “microbial textiles” in its laboratory and using this to create a more sustainable material for shoes and other kinds of footwear. They are using the sugar you can derive from plant waste and microbes and then turn it into nanocellulose.

5. The Heaven’s Door

The Heaven’s Door features a unique and innovative design that merges the close-toe design of a shoe with the open ankle aesthetic of a slip-on sandal. The leather body of the shoes is complemented by an elastic strap that runs along the side, connecting the rear flap to the main shoe. A rubber outsole hints at comfortable outdoor use in an urban environment while hiding the springs away in a recessed channel running along the length of the shoe.

The post Top 5 futuristic footwear designs for sneakerheads to go gaga over first appeared on Yanko Design.

How this 3D printed footwear concept tries to push the limits of tech and design

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3D printing is one of those revolutionary technologies that truly changed the world even years after it became a hot topic. Whether you’re a lone hobbyist or a small company, these seemingly magical boxes are able to bring ideas and dreams to life or at least help jump-start the process of testing and refinement. Despite its amazing achievements, 3D printing technology is actually still at its puberty stage, with plenty of room for growth and, more importantly, experimentation. Fortunately, there are plenty of designers, engineers, and dreamers who are willing and eager to push the boundaries of what 3D printers are able to accomplish, whether it’s in manufacturing, food, or design. This experimental shoe, for example, makes you look like you’re wearing some sort of sci-fi wireframe footwear, and its complex structure really puts 3D printers to the test.

Designer: Matthew Blunt

In the beginning, 3D printers naturally had very limited capabilities, able to build only closed forms or relatively simple shapes. The materials used would be variants of plastic that would be unsuitable for anything but the gentlest and driest applications. Over time, though, 3D printing has moved onto a wider variety of materials, like metal or even chocolate, and more complicated structures. EXPLR 02 builds on top of that to create a design that is one part made of geometric structures and another part inspired by nature.

The result is a pair of shoes that look like the wireframe that you’d see in 3D modeling software, though with an even higher resolution and number of empty spaces. The design, however, takes its inspiration not from those digital artifacts but from nature itself. Repeating patterns, organic forms, and an almost chaotic composition all come together to create footwear that is both beautiful and intriguing.

This kind of design also pushes the envelope of what can be produced by 3D printers, particularly because of structural and material requirements. The complex mesh structure of the shoes requires an agile and flexible 3D printer, while elasticity and durability would need to be provided by unconventional materials that might not yet be available on these printers.

Whether EXPLR 02 can be a useful and practical footwear design, however, is still an open question. The myriad holes on the shoe’s surface provide better ventilation but also has less protection for the foot inside it. The structural integrity of such a design can also be in question since the thin intersecting lines could make it less durable under rugged conditions. Once resolved, though, it could open the doors to usable 3D-printed footwear, which could, in turn, unleash the floodgates of creativity in coming up with fresh shoe designs.

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Edgy Lamborghini Sneaker Concept celebrates the legacy of the Italian marque on their 60th anniversary

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In the past 60 years of its existence, Lamborghini’s made everything from tractors to supercars, and even the odd luxury yacht… but “what if Lamborghini made high-end performance footwear?” asks designer Hussain Almossawi. Designed as a tribute to the automotive icon’s 60-year rich legacy as well as an interesting ‘what-if’ hypothetical, these Lamborghini Performance Sneakers rather wonderfully encapsulate the company’s raging-bull design aesthetic, with an edgy piece of footwear that boasts great surface treatment and some absolutely jaw-dropping glowing details around the midsole and outsole.

Designer: Hussain Almossawi

Envisioned in two rather aptly named colorways – Redline Phantom, and Glacier Ignition, the sneakers come with a split-toe design and enough Lamborghini iconography to make these recognizable from a mile off. You’ve even got neon lights on the side in white and red, like the car’s headlights and taillights, along with air vents that instantly help viewers create that visual bridge between automobiles and footwear. It also helps that Almossawi’s approach to shoe design looks so radically different, that you’d almost never confuse it with your ordinary pair of kicks. After all, a Lamborghini is far from ordinary, right?

The shoe’s chaotic design ties in beautifully with some of Lamborghini’s more exclusive cars (the Sián and Terzo Millennio come to mind). The shoe’s multi-panel design features the use of regular and suede leather for that premium touch, against a technical fabric with a hexagonal design for that wild, sporty touch, and even a little carbon-fiber thrown in for that signature automotive callback. Glossy plastic elements like the one on the toe tip add that rugged appeal to the shoes, while those glowing elements on the side and base make the shoe look undeniably futuristic and like they’re made for speed.

The shoes are layered with Lamborghini iconography, including the company’s logo on a metal plate on the shoe’s tongue, the brand name glowing on the back, a subtle Italy flag on the front, along with the horned logo commemorating the Italian marque’s 60th anniversary.

A metal plate with the Lamborghini logo stamped on it sits on the tongue of the shoe

The “60 Anniversary” logo sits against a carbon-fiber weave

“To bring this shoe design to life, a detailed 3D model was created using cutting-edge CGI technology,” Almossawi tells Yanko Design. “The process involved intricate digital sculpting and precise material simulation to ensure that the shoe design accurately reflected the textures and details of the envisioned materials, including the smooth leather and suede leather.​​​​​​​”

A designer and bestselling author, Hussain Almossawi is based out of Brooklyn, New York, and has consulted with companies such as Apple, Nike, Adidas, Ford Motors, and other world-known brands. Click here to view the process behind creating these sneaker concepts.

This project is an independently designed concept and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Lamborghini S.p.A. or any of its affiliates.

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AI imagines Renaissance Architecture as Footwear to create absolutely stunning new styles

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Putting soul and sole together…

With the kind of attention to detail that only AI can come up with, these shoes are an avant-garde combination of two industries that have very little of an overlap. Envisioned by AI-artist Str4ngeThing, the footwear, which range in a variety of styles, capture architectural and artistic expressions and details from Renaissance Architecture. The results are absolutely stunning, even though impractical. They are, however, “a testament to the power of design and innovation using AI,” according to the designer.

Designer: Str4ngeThing

These heels use a combination of floral motifs and traditional Renaissance spires and towers

Looking like it’s made using a combination of thin-sliced wood veneer or cork, these shoes have an immense amount of detail in them. While footwear design usually sticks to a “less is more” agenda, these shoes are the absolute antithesis to the fact. Chuck Taylors are iconic for their simplicity, so are Crocs, and Christian Louboutins… but these Renaissance Footwear concepts aren’t. Every shoe compresses an entire era of iconic architecture into its small ‘footprint’. Sure, the AI loses some crucial details and makes a few assumptions while generating the images, but the results look marvelous no less.

A classic interpretation of the Italian Renaissance, this mocassin features arched windows like the ones seen in Roman architecture

Some shoes go a step further by including sculptural elements in their details like the one above. The tongue of the shoe, right near the shin, looks like a grotesque – a key element of Renaissance and even medieval architecture. The midsole area has some wonderful detailing, while the entire shoe looks like it was carved from sandstone. The shoe concept below is a stunning example of grandiosity, with an entire relief mural ‘carved’ into the side of the stone. The top of the shoe is an interpretation of the highly detailed Corinthian-style orders seen at the top of architectural columns. Is it practical? Absolutely not. Is it awe-striking? Undeniably.

“This collection is also a true testament to the importance of creativity and innovation in the world of fashion. It demonstrates that with a forward-thinking approach and a commitment to excellence, it is possible to create something truly exceptional,” says designer Str4ngeThing.

Not all footwear designs get the balance between different aesthetic elements right, though… like the proportions between architecture and human sculpture.

The shoe concept above goes way beyond architecture and builds an entire diorama on the footwear body. Although it isn’t perfect, you can see the Roman columns, the angled roofs of the Pantheon-style building, and the environments around it. The footwear below feels like a fresco brought to life, almost like Michelangelo made the footwear himself.

The AI has a long way to go in making concepts that are feasible, but at least in its current stage, Midjourney’s images are about as stunningly hyperrealistic as they can be. “I’m excited to see how this collection will inspire and influence the world of fashion, and I’m proud to have played a part in bringing it to life,” Str4ngeThing mentions in his Instagram post.

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These futuristic Iron Man sneakers concepts will make you feel like a superhero

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Over the decades, certain fictional characters have become iconic brands themselves, spurring numerous themed products to tickle fans’ fancies. This is true for childhood friends like Mickey Mouse and Hello Kitty, as well as for more mature characters like superheroes such as Superman, Batman, and Iron Man. Branded apparel often simply use color schemes or character art, but few actually make you feel like the character unless you start getting into the realm of cosplay. These sneakers concept, however, throws all those conventions out the window to present designs that straddle the line between fantasy and reality, making you wish that this footwear did exist just so that you can literally step into the shoes of an iconic superhero.

Designer: Khalil Zahirian

Some superheroes, especially the most popular ones, are designed to be controversial, often to prove that even those who wear tights and capes can be flawed. One shining example is Tony Stark, a.k.a. Iron Man, whose escapades as a playboy and an alcoholic may make some question where his moral compass really points to. Few, however, will ever doubt the genius inside the armor, and this collection of sneaker design concepts tries to showcase that creativity in a form that you could wear without looking too overbearing.

There are a few design elements of the Iron Man costume that have become iconic throughout different versions. There are the predominant red and gold colors, of course, but there are also the “Repulsor” lasers that shoot out of the supes’ hands. The movies have also put the spotlight on the glowing blue Arc Reactor chest piece. One important element of the armor that is often overlooked is the boots that make it fly.

All these elements are smashed together in a single piece of footwear that leaves no room for doubt that these are Iron Man sneakers. Not only does the color scheme match expectations, but there are also plenty of embellishments that take the design a few levels higher than simple branded footwear. The cutouts on the top, for example, are clear nods to the aforementioned Arc Reactor, while the blue lights around the soles and even on the outsoles give the image of shoes that are ready to blast off at any moment. The faceted surfaces, atypical of most sneakers, give it an armor vibe, even without the brushed metal finish.

Some elements of these concepts seem to be feasible today since we already have sneakers that light up at every step. Others, like that metallic sheen, might be a little harder to pull off. The shoes are definitely not designed for practical use or even comfort, as there are no clear mechanisms for loosening or tightening them. It definitely comes close to being the ultimate Iron Man sneakers that fans would definitely wear proudly when they finally become reality.

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These MARVEL X Nike collab footwear concepts turn your favorite Avengers into dope sneakers

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Little did I know the Loki color palette would look THIS good on footwear!

It’s not like there’s a shortage of Marvel merch out there… but designer Paul Parsons managed to concoct something that looks and feels so awesome I’m literally trying to manifest it into existence. Created with the help of MidJourney’s AI, these Marvel X Nike football sneakers capture the grandeur of some of the MCU’s most memorable heroes (and anti-heroes). Treading a fine line between being sporty footwear and an homage to a comic-book character, these football boots look exceptional on their own, even when observed without context. The series spans 9 different footwear models, dedicated to distinct characters from the Avengers movie… and Wolverine. Scroll down to see which one is your favorite!

Designer: Paul Parsons

The Spider-Man sneaker obviously uses the traditional color palette, with a liberal application of randomized lines to represent the friendly neighborhood web-slinger’s webbing. Notice how none of the sneakers actually use logos of the Marvel heroes (so as to avoid any copyright infringement, I suppose), but do wonderfully integrate Nike’s tick sign into the shoes to give them their unique character. I assume Nike’s much more liberal with fan-made concepts than Disney.

Iron Man and Black Panther tie in second place just because I have so much love for the characters in general. The former’s shoe has a lean design but with more ‘chunky’ 3D elements that give it an exoskeleton-like appeal, coupled with that signature metallic red and gold interplay that we love so much. The Black Panther shoe, on the other hand, relies on a more Afrofuturistic-leaning design that’s heavy on textures and lines, much like T’Challa and Shuri’s suits. The use of gold makes me guess these are for the new Black Panther in our lives.

Loki and Thor are arguably the most difficult to replicate. Given that it’s difficult to add any signature motifs like horns or hammers on the shoes, everything boils down to color themes, and the use of thunder in the latter’s artwork. I really have a newfound appreciation for the green and gold combo, which Parsons’ football sneaker concept utilizes beautifully. The golden studs near the heel and the golden tick mark really make the shoe stand out. With Thor, I’d much rather see the use of the square chainmail that was found in Thor’s sleeves in earlier movies. The shoe uses a white and red interplay, with lightning streaks to invoke the Norse God of thunder.

Hulk’s footwear treatment seems more on the side of realism, given that the proportions are still very human. A creative call on the designer’s part, I still quite like this one. There’s a bit of an acidic toxic aesthetic here that feels more akin to The Lizard here, but still, a job well done! The creases and lines on the shoe somewhat feel like sinews and muscles, without the exaggerated proportions of The Hulk. Maybe a little purple would do the trick, as is found in the hero’s (tattered but holding-together) pants.

Wolverine seemed like a bit of a wild card here, but I’ve always loved what Hugh Jackman brought to the role. He’s more Wolverine than Robert is Iron Man, if you ask me… and I know that’s a controversial hot take. Again, this concept stays on the lines of realism by not including any razor-sharp adamantium studs at the bottom of the footwear… but that yellow and black aesthetic is just instantly recognizable. It uses stripes that can be found in the original costume too, with a sharp tick mark ‘cutting’ through for extra impact.

We bring our collection to its conclusion with Groot and Thanos. The two non-human sources of inspiration in this collection. The Groot footwear (grootwear?) has a wonderfully woody appeal, with roots and twigs curling around each other the way they do on the woody superhero’s body. The shoe rests on a carpet of leaves too, completely honoring the theme. With Thanos, however, the shoe’s design misses the inclusion of the Infinity Stones… but there’s the signature purple and golden melange that is synonymous with the character’s purple skin and golden gauntlet. Lines around the shoe’s ‘chin’ resemble the creases found on Thanos’ chin too!

The post These MARVEL X Nike collab footwear concepts turn your favorite Avengers into dope sneakers first appeared on Yanko Design.

Top 10 futuristic footwear designs that sneakerheads will absolutely love

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With our hectic lives which pretty much involve us running around all day, the right footwear can make a world of difference. Shoes started off as functional designs meant to protect our feet, and yes we need to pick ones that do exactly that, BUT, they should also reflect our style statements and represent our personality and our personal fashion sense. After all, don’t they say that you can tell a lot about a man by the state of his shoes? Personally, I love a good pair of sturdy and stylish sneakers, ones that can get me through the day without giving me any shoe bites, and also match my outfits. However, I do know that this isn’t the case with everybody. People have high demands and expectations when it comes to their footwear, hence designers are unleashing all of their creative juices, leaving no stones unturned in making unique, innovative, and ergonomic shoes. From Balenciaga high-heel sneakers to “decaying” shoes that are made from organic materials – these footwear designs are as futuristic, inventive, and fashionable as they can get!

1. Balenciaga High-heel Sneakers

This Balenciaga high-heel footwear concept was designed by OJB Studio keeping potential future technologies in mind. “In this Balenciaga concept, [current] manufacturing boundaries and constraints were excluded, with freedom and imagination leading the way”, Ollie of OJB Studio told Yanko Design. “This process enables a fast and efficient way of experimental aesthetic ideation, providing some rather wild, yet desirable designs.” The brief for the specific concept was to create a Balenciaga high heel for the near future, inspired by elements of a sneaker. It’s purely a visual exercise that aims at determining what the future of fashion in the footwear industry will look like.

2. The Kajola Shoe Collection

The Kajola shoe collection is made to look like decaying footwear as the materials used are natural. Because of the way, it’s designed, it’s really more of a piece of artwork than functional footwear. They want to call it “living artifacts” made from various biomaterials like volcanic dust, clay, and even cacao powder and so as the years pass by, it will naturally curl into itself, just like leaves and other organic materials do when they decay. They are named after an area in Nigeria and a trip to local forests. The idea is to push what other things plants can be used to create.

3. UV-Zhu’s Nike Conceptual Series

UV-Zhu’s Nike conceptual series are basically inflatable structures paired up with daily objects resulting in kicks that you would probably never see at the Nike showroom. The ankle straps are made from white garters, silicone, and paper-based tapes. The outsoles have been power-packed with springs so that they can allow the wearer, to walk without actually putting any effort into walking! Sponges and myriad kinds of soft padding have been squeezed in between these layers, creating comfy cushioning for the wearer. Some of the shoes have also been equipped with a layer of candy, and eccentric bristles as the outsole.

4. The Heaven’s Door

The Heaven’s Door has a unique design style that combines the close-toe design of a shoe with the open-ish ankle aesthetic of a slip-on sandal. The shoes have a leather body, punctuated by an elastic strap that runs along the side, connecting the rear flap to the main shoe. A rubber outsole hints at comfortable outdoor use in an urban environment while hiding the springs away in a recessed channel running along the length of the shoe. Although remarkable in their automatic opening/closing abilities, the shoes don’t try to look futuristic – because they are not.

5. AC1 Boot

Meet the AC1 boot by Brooklyn-based mischief-makers MSCHF created to explore the lighter side of hopping around in walking boots meant for rehabilitation from a foot injury. As good as the sneaker design seems for the Gen-Z, the inspiration story is equally interesting. In 2015 CEO Lukas Bentel saw a person waking in medical boots down Prince Street in New York. He thought it to be the “most interestingly designed object,” especially the function-over-fashion character. According to him pondering over objects that aren’t intended to be aesthetic and given the least attention when it comes to design, can end up “looking really interesting and out there.”

6. Averted Vision

Defined by its cushioned design and minimalist profile, Averted Vision is practical and trendy. The cushioned soles take up around half of the shoe’s side profiles, providing ample bounce for playing without gravity. Conceptualized without shoelaces, Averted Vision could benefit from textile technology to form-fit around the wearer’s feet for a snug, comfy fit. The silhouette of the shoe seems to be inspired by designs of today, like Yeezy Foam Runners and Boosts. These days, it sometimes feels like we’re a stone’s throw away from life on Mars, so it’s not surprising that designers who tapped into the future are influenced by the trends of today.

7. The Heinekicks

What are the Heinekicks? Quite simply put, they’re limited edition sneakers FILLED with beer. There are only 32 pairs available in the world, and yes, you heard it right, they actually contain soles filled with the new Heineken Silver. Heineken promises these liquid-filled kicks “will have you Walking on Beer”. The Shoe Surgeon maintained the brand’s iconic red, green, and silver colors in the shoes as well. He power-packed the sneakers with a sleek green lenticular upper with silver and red accents. A removable metal bottle opener has been integrated into the tongue of the shoes. This could come in pretty handy when it’s time to pop open a cold one!

8. adidas x Victorinox EQT 93 sneaker

This is the Adidas x Victorinox EQT 93 sneaker by the German activewear brand for people who have a very active lifestyle. When needed the most, the sneaker has the Swiss brand’s EDC snug in place for any fixing, cutting, or other tasks. The shoe is based on the EQT 93 sneaker and modified for this exclusive offering. According to Veronika Elsener, Chief of Marketing at Victorinox – “We are thrilled with the outcome of the products which bring unique design and exciting details.”

9. Sim-Plis-Tech

The brief was to create a pair of shoes that can be used by the “urban nomad” which is basically people like me. The designer was able to come up with a concept for a Vans-like pair of shoes called Sim-Plis-Tech, taking inspiration from a mixture of space, alien life, corals, and skate parks. We get something that looks like what an astronaut would wear while walking around Mars and also something we city folk can wear around while traipsing in the urban jungle.

10. The 38%_2101 Running Shoes

Space-X Sneakers for Mars Process

38%_2101 Running Shoes for Mars Materials

Once you’ve set foot on Mars, it may be nice to wear something cool and durable like the 38%_2101 Running Shoes for MARS. The pair is based on the Y-3 running shoes and looks very futuristic. The designer decided to go for the Y-3 because the brand has a futuristic vision. The 38%_2101 Running Shoes for Mars appear to be out of this world, but the pair is also something we can still wear on Earth. The designer’s process included several other inspirations like aerospace equipment and minimal color units and a few items with sharp shapes.

The post Top 10 futuristic footwear designs that sneakerheads will absolutely love first appeared on Yanko Design.