Tag Archives: footwear

Self-wearing shoe concept automatically opens and closes thanks to a clever low-tech shape memory alloy spring

Posted on by

Designed to look like the spiritual lovechild of the Nike Adapt self-lacing shoes and the Nike GO FlyEase hands-free shoe, this proof-of-concept footwear design from Jeff Shen hides a Nitinol (Nickel-Titanium Alloy) spring in its outsole. Known for its shape-memory properties, the spring can be made to expand and contract, allowing the footwear to open or close around your foot! No laces, no hands, no problems!

Unlike the Nike Adapt that comes with sensors, motors, and batteries, Shen’s shoes (titled ‘Heaven’s Door’) use a much more ingenious low-tech system that doesn’t require all those bells and whistles. The shoe’s simple lacing/unlacing mechanism relies on a wireless charging mat that helps heat the Nitinol spring, causing it to expand and the shoe to open. Slip your foot in and step off the mat and the Nitinol spring begins cooling and returning to its original shape, causing the shoe to constrict securely around your ankle.

Designer: Jeff Shen

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. Unlike the Nike Adapt that have an undeniable sci-fi backstory, the Heaven’s Door is simply a footwear concept with a clever idea driven by material science. It’s a seemingly normal-looking shoe with an incredible trick up its sleeve… or down its outsole.

For Shen, the shoe’s design required a lot of trial, error, and prototyping (you can read his entire case study on his portfolio website). Shen played with straight and coiled Nitinol elements, toyed with the sole’s design, the opening and closing mechanism, and even experimented with finding the right place to add the elastic band to prevent the shoe’s rear flap from deforming.

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.

What the Heaven’s Door shoe does is cleverly eliminate any need for tech components to be present in the shoe. This helps bring down the footwear’s price while still giving it its signature feature. It also means no chances of planned obsolescence, or parts accidentally failing. Even if things DO fail, the shoes can still be worn and removed manually, using the pull tab at the back of the footwear.

Ultimately, the shoe aims at appealing to everyone thanks to its clever, universal design… but just like with Nike’s GO FlyEase hands-free footwear, Shen designed his concept keeping the disabled in mind. Shen used the term “Enclothed Cognition” to describe most disability-focused fashion found in today’s world. “It refers to the systematic influence that clothes have on the wearer’s psychological processes”, Shen explained. “Not being able to put on shoes by oneself and constantly realizing the fact that they dress in a disabled look is devastating on the user experience and self-esteem.”

Aside from being a clever, accessible, truly hands-free, and low-tech self-wearing shoe, the Heaven’s Door footwear concept also destroys the notion that disabled fashion should look any different from regular fashion. The self-wearing shoes have a uniquely contemporary style that appeals to a broader populace. Or should I say popu-laceless!?

The post Self-wearing shoe concept automatically opens and closes thanks to a clever low-tech shape memory alloy spring first appeared on Yanko Design.

Squatty Slides Footwear Turn Every Toilet Into a Squatty Potty

Posted on by

Created by Matty Benedetto of Unnecessary Inventions, Squatty Slides are a pair of footwear with extendable bases to raise your legs into the optimal position for taking care of business. And by taking care of business, I mean pooping, just to be clear. Probably too clear. My guess is you already knew what I was talking about.

The Squatty Slides feature a compartment on the bottom that opens, extending the platforms, and, after twisting them to lock into place, are ready for action. Hopefully not any crazy action, though. Hopefully just some healthy, regular action thanks to a well-rounded diet and not Taco Bell for lunch AND dinner.

Are Squatty Slides practical for regular wear? Probably not, considering they appear to be made of hard, 3D-printed plastic. I guess you could wear them around the house, though, but then why wouldn’t you just put an actual Squatty Potty in the bathroom? Maybe this is where the ‘unnecessary’ in Unnecessary Inventions comes from.

[via Neatorama]

Angler Fish Luminescent Flip-Flops: Slide Into The Deep Sea

Posted on by

Inspired by the deep sea angler fish, these slides from HelloSlippers feature a cartoon version of the goofy-looking fish, complete with a glow-in-the-dark lure dangling above your feet. Granted, I’m not sure what you’re going to catch wearing these at night, but I’d count my toes afterward.

The slides are available in eleven different colors and six different sizes that fit feet from a women’s 4.5 to a men’s 12.5. They also include a shark fin to replace the angler fish’s lure (seen below), effectively making them two pairs of slides for the price of one! Personally, I’m going to wear one shark and one angler fish slide. And, if I’m being perfectly honest, probably on the wrong feet.


Are they bright enough to light my way to the fridge for a midnight snack without having to turn all the lights on between the bedroom and kitchen to prevent ghost attacks? You can rest assured I plan on finding out! And if they do, maybe my wife will stop making me sleep in the guest bedroom.

7-Eleven Crocs: Convenience Store Colab

Posted on by

Multi-national convenience store giant 7-Eleven has teamed up with Crocs to produce a line of branded footwear sporting the store’s iconic (but not necessarily tasteful) orange, red, and green logo colors. Those…wow, those are really something. They definitely stand out.

The collab footwear will be available in three styles: the 7-Eleven x Crocs Mega Crush Clog ($110), the 7-Eleven x Crocs Classic Clog ($70), and the 7-Eleven x Crocs Classic Sandal ($50). Of course, because they’re all in such high demand, you have to enter a drawing in order to win the right to buy a pair. And here I thought they’d set the prices so high that only the people who really wanted them would buy a pair. Boy, was I wrong?

Hey, different strokes for different folks — that’s what I have to remind myself. Granted, I’m not sure whose stroke these are or why, but to each their own. I’m not here to judge; I’m just here for a Slurpee and a Slim Jim.

[via FoodAndWine]

Top 10 futuristic footwear to give you the ultimate fashionably ergonomic design

Posted on by

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 Nike-inspired minimal trendy sneakers– 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. 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 tapped into the future are influenced by the trends of today.

3. 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 artefacts” 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.

4. 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!

5. 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.”

6. 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.

7. The Nanoflex Parafit TR and Club MEMT Parafit

Reebok really wants to help the physically challenged community with a gimmick-free collection of lifestyle and performance-oriented sneakers. This new edition of sneakers is designed in partnership with Zappos Adaptive, and includes two sneakers crafted for easy on-and-off wear to facilitate disabled people. Dubbed the Nanoflex Parafit TR and Club MEMT Parafit, these sneakers are low-cut and feature removable sock liners (for orthotics) and high abrasion rubber outsoles for superior grip. While the Nanoflex Parafit TR has a breathable mesh upper, medial zipper, and heel pull tab for easy putting on or taking off – the Club MEMT Parafit has a leather upper and extra 4E width.

8. The Koio x Norm Architect Sneaker

KOIO X NORM ARCHITECTS IN CLIFF Shoes

KOIO is known for keeping things more interesting with its partnerships with other brands. Its sneaker brand collaborations tell us not just about Koio’s design philosophy but also about the other brand. The collaboration with Norm Architects resulted in a pair that can be worn for most occasions. The pair is available in two different colors: Cliff and Black Timber. Versions for men and women are ready in various sizes. The sneaker collaboration is a minimalist silhouette of the classic Oxford shoe with a twist. It has also gained a furniture counterpart that looks beautiful, casual yet classy, in oak.

9. The PATRÓN Tequila x John Geiger Limited Edition GF-01 Sneakers

Patrón x John Geiger GF-01 Sneakers

Patrón x John Geiger GF-01 Sneakers Design Details

The PATRÓN Tequila x John Geiger Limited Edition GF-01 Sneakers are made of rare materials with the designer’s creative principles in mind. Geiger was thinking about style, comfort, and versatility—and that’s what the sneakers offer. The shoes are versatile, like the PATRÓN tequila, so you are free to use the pair on the street or on the court. John Geiger’s signature street style and ‘g’ logo have been applied to the pair. The green and white colorway will remind you of the agave fields in Jalisco.

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 to give you the ultimate fashionably ergonomic design first appeared on Yanko Design.

Balenciaga high-heel sneakers with fluid 3D-printed design shows what the future of fashion looks like

Posted on by

Shoes, quite like cars, phones, and all other objects, are limited by the technology available to them. Amazonians dipped their feet into liquid rubber before woven fabric/canvas and processed leather was a reality. The Crocs couldn’t have been possible had it not been for injection molding, and it’s only now that companies like Adidas and Nike are experimenting with 3D printing – a technology that has just recently become an industrial reality. 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.”

Designer: OJB Studio

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. Although haute couture does tend to stray away from comfort and ergonomics, this particular concept is more of a visual exploration than an actual template. The shoes take on a rather fluid, almost alien-like form that feels like a nod to modern-day shoe design often seen commercially with Yeezy’s line of footwear. Elements of hard plastic are wonderfully punctuated by woven fabric and even what looks like carbon-fiber trims. “Using various materials and textures added contrast to the layering of the heel, allowing for certain features to be distinguished and highlighted, for example, the hard flowing structures against the soft mesh fabrics”, Ollie mentioned.

The post Balenciaga high-heel sneakers with fluid 3D-printed design shows what the future of fashion looks like first appeared on Yanko Design.

“Decaying” shoes are made from organic materials

Posted on by

If you’re the kind of person whose shoes last for years and years, you sometimes don’t know if they’re still wearable especially if you haven’t worn them for a long time (like say, during the pandemic). But as long as it’s still wearable, especially if it’s your favorite, then you probably wouldn’t mind wearing it as long as it’s still okay. But if it looks like it’s decaying or falling apart, would you still keep it and wear it? That’s an interesting question to ask when faced with a pair of “living” footwear that looks like it has seen better days.

Designer: Yussef Agbo-Ola of Olainyi Studio

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 artefacts” 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.

The collection is made up of nine experimental shoe designs, all shaped similar to slipper-like footwear. The soles are made from a mixture of plant fibers, clays, plant starch, and other materials that can be used as a base. The upper portion is made from other natural fibers and mixed with natural additives like herbs, sand, flowers, and algae. They are actually hand cut and sewn and they even used a Japanese shoe patcher sewing machine to create this. Normally this machine is used to repair leather goods so you know it can withstand tough materials.

They are planning to develop a wearable version of this next year although I’m not sure if people would be interested to wear something that looks like it. Well, it’s pretty cool looking and can be a good conversation piece if anyone asks you “Why are you wearing an old pair of shoes?”.

The post “Decaying” shoes are made from organic materials first appeared on Yanko Design.

Walk on beer with these limited-edition Heineken sneakers have been injected with beer in their soles

Posted on by

Are you ready to ‘walk on beer’? Because Heineken’s here to ensure that you do just that! The infamous Dutch brewing company recently unveiled Heineken Silver – a new smooth, easy-to-drink beer brewed for a new generation of drinkers. And they decided to kickstart its launch, with a pair of kicks! Heineken collaborated with celebrity sneaker designer Dominic Cambrione, more popularly known as The Shoe Surgeon, to create – the ‘Heinekicks’.

Designer: Heineken x The Shoe Surgeon

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. The acclaimed designer has created kicks worn by the likes of LeBron James, DJ Khaled, and Drake.“Partnering with Heineken for their new beer was a fun challenge. We both share a passion for innovation and pushing boundaries and created a design to reflect that,” said The Shoe Surgeon. “The shoe not only embodies the energy of Heineken Silver but literally carries it. I can’t say I’ve ever designed a sneaker that contains actual beer before.’’

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 pretty handy when it’s time to pop open a cold one!

Of course, the most fascinating element of the shoes is the transparent soles filled with the golden liquid, which is Heineken Silver. The beer was inserted into the soles using a specialized surgical injection method!

The one-of-a-kind soles provide the wearer with an extremely smooth walking experience, drawing a smart parallel to the smooth taste of Heineken Silver. These are the first pair of sneakers that allow you to walk on beer and a super genius marketing hack! We can’t wait to see how avid beer lovers react toward Heineken Silver!

The post Walk on beer with these limited-edition Heineken sneakers have been injected with beer in their soles first appeared on Yanko Design.

These Monstera sliders are an oddly satisfying example of nature-inspired design

Posted on by

I’ll be honest, I’m quite overtly critical when it comes to weirdly designed shoes (Yeezy Sliders in particular), but the Monstera Mule by Unsent Studio is absolutely giving me joy!

Designed using the Monstera Deliciosa plant’s leaf as inspiration, the sliders come with a rather appealing form factor that looks like the leaf wrapped around your foot. Quite a different interpretation of the term ‘plant-based’ if you ask me!

Designer: Unsent Studio

The footwear is molded in a single piece, quite like Crocs and the Yeezy Sliders, making it durable and incredibly convenient to mass manufacture. You can even make them in different colors, and Unsent Studio’s even experimented with shades of green, sort of celebrating the fact that different plants have different colored leaves.

What’s so incredibly appealing about the shoe’s design is its commitment to staying true to the original. There’s enough artistic expression to appreciate here, but the beauty lies entirely in how the shoe mimics the plant rather wonderfully. You’ve got the stem (midrib), veins, and even a cellular texture that looks and feels like a leaf!

Sadly though, the Monstera Mule is conceptual for now, although with enough demand and attention, maybe Unsent Studio will consider doing some sort of launch or limited drop! Hit them up on Instagram if you’re interested.

The post These Monstera sliders are an oddly satisfying example of nature-inspired design first appeared on Yanko Design.

These shoes use 3D printed fabric to make sure kids’ feet grow properly

Posted on by

Buying shoes is often seen as something more related to fashion, especially when it comes to shopping for specific brands or trending styles. On the flip side, some take choosing the right shoes for granted, becoming satisfied as long as the shoe fits or feels comfortable enough. As adults, we have the luxury to choose the shoes we want, but it’s a slightly different matter for kids whose bodies are still rapidly changing and settling in. Young wearers will need footwear that goes beyond just fit and comfort, but one that can also help their feet grow in the proper way, avoiding potential health problems that could arise later in their lives. Such shoes are often labeled “therapeutic” and have expensive price tags, but We|aver+ wants to make this kind of shoes more accessible and easier to make, all thanks to 3D printing.

Designer: Yumeng Li & Zongheng Sun (PEAR & MULBERRY)

3D printing has undoubtedly changed the manufacturing landscape, both for individuals and even for companies. It opened the doors to more efficient prototyping of designs and made it easier to bring ideas to life. More recent development even allows for different kinds of materials to be used when 3D printing forms and structures, giving creators more freedom in the designs they want to implement.

We|aver+ or Weaver+, for example, 3D prints something that is akin to knitted fabric, except it uses elastic TPU as the material. The shoes that it prints out actually look more like chainmail rather than conventional fabric, and it’s not without reason. The hollow-loose knitting structure gives the shoes the flexibility necessary for supporting the growing feet of children. At the same time, however, the shoe also offers stable support to make sure the heels don’t lose their suppleness in the long run.

The therapeutic shoes also use 3D modeling even before they are printed. A child’s foot can be scanned to generate a 3D model in just a few minutes. This 3D representation is then used to analyze and determine the best combination of designs that will yield the perfect thickness and form of the 3D printed fabric. This is the ultimate customization option, taking into consideration how personal feet can actually be.

The end result is a pair of shoes that are designed to feel great but also look distinctive. It’s definitely easy to spot from a see of designer shoes because of its knitted structure, giving it a bit of a unique identity. More importantly, the design allows the shoes to stretch in one direction while also providing stability in the perpendicular direction.

Weaver+ is a very good example of how 3D printing can significantly change the way even regular people live, whether they have access to 3D printers or not. Shoes can be customized to fit the specific needs and requirements of wearers, and they can use more sustainable materials like recycled TPU. It might be harder to scale this process up to the same level as traditional pipelines, but that too could change in the near future, when 3D printing becomes more widespread and more accessible.

The post These shoes use 3D printed fabric to make sure kids’ feet grow properly first appeared on Yanko Design.