Present future: How sneakers become cooler and more technological
Manufacture of sportswear and footwear - one of the most dynamically developing areas in terms of technology, directly related to fashion. When looking at the latest sneakers, it seems that soon we will be able to move around the city at the speed of a bullet. By the start of the running season, we talked with representatives of several sports campaigns, as well as experts in the snicker culture, about what to expect from running shoes in the near future and what technological innovations appeared this season.
The design of the new sneakers is determined by developing technologies. Sports companies are striving for waste-free production, minimizing costs, improving environmental friendliness. For example, technologies Flyknit, Primeknit, TechLoom Pro are relatively new, but they allow to achieve these goals. In addition, they provide almost limitless possibilities for creating new unique designs. Bright palettes, unusual materials. What else is needed? Hopefully, in the future, it would not occur to anyone to embed a coffee maker and a plasma panel in sneakers. After all, sneakers are just shoes. The maximum they will be even more convenient.
By 2015, everyone expected to see the Nike Air Mag self-shielding from the movie Back to the Future. For now, these are just promises. What would you like me personally? This service: I come to the store, scan a leg and get personal sneakers under my foot. I am sure that with the development of 3D scanners, printing and the same knitting technology, this is a matter of the near future. The coolest sneakers of 2050? Classic - white adidas Superstar with black stripes.
The design of the sneakers becomes purposeful, that is, each seam and material meets the goals. Moreover, every detail in a running shoe should solve as many tasks as possible. From here: it is less than details, the design is more minimalist. For example, one insert in the sole in Ultra BOOST sneakers is responsible for several characteristics: balance, stability and support of the foot. Thanks to the insertion, the heel and nose of the foot move naturally and independently of each other.
Now is the development of the trend of "natural running". It involves adaptive sneakers, which preserve the natural movement of the foot, comfortable girth, the use of lightweight materials and imperceptibility on the foot. We have developed these technologies in our new Ultra BOOST sneakers. Our studies have shown that the athlete's foot during the race may expand by 10 millimeters or more. To do this, we created the material Primeknit: sneakers are adjacent to the foot, do not pinch the foot, adapting to its position during the run. Outside, the top of the sneaker looks like a compression sock.
The second trend is the return of expended energy. This is our innovation - the Ultra BOOST sole. It consists of thousands of energy capsules that return energy when moving, which gives you extra strength. In numbers, this means a 26 second advantage at the marathon. For world records it is a lot. The next step is the creation of special running shoes for women, because the physics of the male and female feet are different. For example, women more often develop bursitis with excessive stress on the joints.
Over the past ten years, the composition of the runners has changed a lot. These are not only avid adult marathon runners, but the most diverse active youth with a new outlook on things. Working on sneakers, we think about those who are running contraindicated. Sneakers adapt to any foot: everyone will be comfortable even just walking in them. Later, perhaps, sneakers will redirect you from walking to an active lifestyle.
With the exception of conservative buyers, fans of sneakers can be divided into two groups. The first - "futurists". They appreciate the manufacturability, unusual design, bright or metallic colors. The second is "casuals". For them, the history of sneakers, associations with specific personalities, the quality of materials and inconspicuous colors are important.
Casual sneakers are light and technological, and sports, thanks to the design, look like a work of art. The future of sneakers is different in different parts of the world. However, Japan and Korea reflect the immediate prospects of the snicker industry. There are no complexes in terms of sneakers: freaky silhouettes, explosive colors and the perfection of minimalism.
I am sure the athletes would be grateful for the invention of the "anti-fatigue" technology. You run a marathon, and sneakers make sure that your two steps on the sensations were in one. Still needed improved flavoring - a useful thing, especially when not lucky with a neighbor in the plane. Our latest ZPump Fusion sneaker technology includes adaptability. In an unloaded state, ZPump Fusion is practically formless, you should put them on, press the Pump button and pump in air - the sneakers take the shape of your foot and fix the foot while running.
Just imagine: twenty years ago, athletes performed in shoes that weighed like a train. Now sneakers have become incredibly technological and light. Design is directly related to technology. For example, the technology of weaving Flyknit - this is already the design, to invent anything and not necessary. Flyknit reduces production costs, reduces weight and improves ventilation. However, tomorrow an innovative technology will appear - and everyone will forget about Flyknit.
I miss the introduction of gadgets. There are Nike + and miCoach, but time to please everyone with something more impressive. For example, an electricity generator or LED sole. Almost no technology that really helps athletes. There are shock-absorbing technologies, but there are no technologies that use the kinetic energy of an athlete.
A couple of years ago I tried APL technology. APL is a bold company that began to produce sneakers with springs placed in the sole. Products of this brand are officially banned in the NBA. I note: I jumped in APL a couple of centimeters higher
In 2050, I hope to have a device at home that will sew my dream sneakers every day in a couple of minutes. I will pay a one-year subscription and play any retro model without any problems. If I want to play basketball, the device itself will offer an option depending on the physical condition and the weather outside.
It seems to me that the main trend is connected with the 3D-tised sneakers. Someday the production of clothes and shoes will be on every corner, like a photo printing studio. The process is simple and straightforward. The 3D-studio will have a universal catalog with basic products. According to it, you can choose a silhouette, color, laces and more. You can buy a print license under the brand name. In general, it will be a kind of symbiosis of "no name" and brand things. Customization at its best.
In the future, it would be nice to have the option of replacing the sole if you have erased the old one or just want to change the look. Then sneakers could be for all occasions. Sneakers without laces, such as PUMA Disc Blaze, look extremely futuristic. However, the shoes of the future I see this: the top is made of LED-threads, which allows you to broadcast any picture or video. You can download any print or video. It will be possible to show movies, series or cartoons on sneakers, and an instructional video for children.
Our latest running innovation is the PUMA IGNITE model. Worked on it for nine years. The result is an innovative foam that reacts to every movement of an athlete. So, the sole returns energy to the runner, provides softness and stability. Technology ForEverFoam taken from the automotive industry. It is used in the heel part of the sneaker and helps absorb shock loads.
The design of sneakers develops in the direction of simplification. This is due to habits and preferences: most people choose the “classics” of the 70s and 90s. PUMA is actively developing the direction of Sport Classics with “archival” models: Suede, Basket, Match.
Designers and sports companies are trying to "recast" each other, coming up with new silhouettes and colors. However, as Alexander Vasilyev says: "If it is resold as a novelty, then it is an old-fashioned one." We dream of simple in design, but technological sneakers.
Initially, sneakers were designed for athletes: they must be a priori functional. However, any change in materials and the creation process entail changes in design. For example, ASICS has its own scientific institute in Japan, where they conduct experiments and research. Tinker Hatfield created the Air Max with NASA engineers. These are awesome developments that we know almost nothing about and which sometimes we don’t even notice. Significant changes in the design of sneakers occur during scientific breakthroughs.
What technologies are missing? All dream of self-knit sneakers, and Nike promise to release them in 2016. Personally, I always have enough strength in the morning to tie my shoelaces, and in the evening I am lazy. The peak of this reluctance usually falls on a late Friday or Saturday night. Perhaps we need sneakers similar, but of a different kind.
Our latest developments are a rejection of the layering of materials, extra seams and details, a further reduction in weight and volume. Sneakers are not felt on the foot, weightless materials are breathable, the foot moves naturally. These principles are followed by two key Nike technologies: Flyknit and Free.
Nike Flyknit technology has redefined the approach to creating sports shoes in general. Instead of gluing individual parts, the surface of the sneaker is a tight weave, a "tie" synthetic thread. This type of weaving supports the foot in the right places. Moreover, with conscious production there is no scraps left. This reduces waste.
Nike Free is suitable for training the foot and working out the technique of natural running. Here, the runners themselves choose the level of flexibility of the sneaker: model 3.0 is close to running barefoot, and 5.0 combines the advantages of natural running with the cushioning of ordinary sneakers. Running in Nike Free helps to strengthen the muscles of the feet, to develop flexibility and balance by providing a full range of movement of the foot, from the fingers to the ankle. Important: such sneakers are suitable only for distances up to 5 kilometers and cannot replace sneakers for long-distance running.
The future is for "composite" sneakers, hybrids of several technologies. Maybe for sneakers, designers, where the design follows the necessary function of the runner or other athlete. What is important is a breakthrough in digital services that act as your personal trainer. They are especially important for those who are just starting their path in sports.