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Day: 21 October 2022
What are some of our favourite sneaker features of the last few years?
As we collect more and more shoes, we become aware of all the different features and additional brand names tagged onto them that help to market these products. But it’s not all marketing, certain features have become marks of quality craftmanship justifiably, or exciting tech that extends past the gimmicks of sneaker-tech 30 years ago. We wanted to highlight some examples that have been particularly popular and point out what we think is so special about them.
First off, we have Gore-Tex. Possibly the name on this list that comes with the most respect and trust, Gore-Tex tech is known for its heavy-duty nature and waterproof status. Used on hiking and trail running shoes from Hoka and Salomon, the technology has seen many entries into more mainstream sneaker fashion, being used on the Air Jordan 1 and soon the Air Jordan 5, as well as the infamous Air Force 1.
Image: KicksOnFire
Next, we have Vibram soles, which cater to a similar demographic as Gore-Tex, making grippy and durable soles capable of withstanding any weather. The difference with Vibram however, is the scale of its monopoly over smaller sneaker companies, with brands like Brandblack, WeAreUnderdogs, and Nnormal all using their products. But the soles are respected by big names in the sneaker game too, most notably being used by Merrell and Hoka, who have recently seen a run of popularity. Whilst soles are normally focused on the cushion debates between Boost and Max Air etc., recent trends in Gorpcore have reminded us you can’t go wrong with a Vibram sole.
More of a general piece of tech, rather than a patented product, knitted gear has and likely will always have a place in the world of shoes. Particularly common in the world of running and basketball shoes, knitted uppers have revolutionized the world of slip-ons and sneakers that have forgone the traditional laces. All Birds are an example of a brand that has recently used Knit to great effect, on their Tree Dasher models, whilst PrimeKnit and FlyKnit continue to be go-to materials for Adidas and Nike respectively.
Image: Farfetch
Lastly, we have 3D Printed sneaker parts. Now, at first, this seemed like a bit of a gimmick. Adidas’ 4D looked very promising, but it ultimately failed to cash in on its buzz and was quickly forgotten about. But more recently, we have seen entire shoes being 3d printed. More specifically, slides have returned in a big way, partly due to their large-scale production thanks to improved 3D printing capabilities. Adidas and Yeezy Brand are possibly the most notable examples of this with the Adilette 22 and Yeezy slides, but smaller brand Zellerfeld has also pushing the envelope on how far this tech can go.
Is ASICS running past New Balance?
Whilst Nike and Adidas are still raking in the largest profits, the “It” sneaker brand of the last few years has debatably been New Balance. At first, as the cool brand making a comeback for those in the know, to nowadays when it has been reaccepted into popular culture by everyone, it seems like New Balance is on top of the world. But as we look into the future, we wonder how long this trend can last, and when it does pass, who will overtake it to become the new hottest sneaker brand?
Image: Slick Sneakers
Over the last few months, we think it has become clear that the brand that stands the most chance of taking New Balance’s crown of coolness in the next few years is ASICS, and here’s why.
First and foremost, ASICS are the kings of a specific style of shoe, the 2000s runner. Known for its mesh panelling paired with a usually leather frame, this style of sneaker came before the great takeover of plastics and synthetic materials, but as the industry was starting to move away from the traditional bulky leather models of the 90s. Such ASICS 2000’s designs from the Cumulus, Nimbus and Kayano lines are great examples of this style.
But why do we think this shoe is going to see a return to popularity? For a start, it follows nicely on from New Balance’s classic leather and suede looks. As people start to get tired of the 990s and the 992s, ASICS’ Sport style catalogue offers similar shoes that work in the same kind of outfits and for the same overall aesthetic. But crucially, with enough difference to give the consumer something new to get excited about.
Image: Sneaker News
Moreover, last year’s release of the Balenciaga Runner is significant, because the model, whilst relatively successful, was hounded online for ripping off ASICS aesthetic, with many fans claiming the shoes were too close to the Japanese brand’s products for comfort. For ASICS, this was a huge win, as not only is Balenciaga peddling this style of the shoe back into fashion, but the story gave some positive press to ASICS, reminding the public of their products.
Finally, the tipping point that we think will be looked back on as the start of ASICS’ return to popular fashion, was the release of the JJJJound x ASICS Gel-Kayano 14 earlier this year. Selling out instantly and fetching prices over double its retail price, JJJJound was one of the first collaborators to attract buzz around New Balance and their models, and it looks like he may have just done it again. This time, on behalf of ASICS.
Our feedback phase is over: ready to launch!
After a lot of hard work and preparation, building our website into a product that we believe will truly benefit the sneaker community, we are proud to present to you WOOVIN! So, first of all, let’s run you through the basics of how it works.
Image: WOOVIN
If you are interested in buying shoes, then you are in the right place. Our site has a constantly growing number of sneakers registered to be bought and sold. We have an increasing number of stores selling all kinds of shoes in different conditions, giving you a wider range of options in any given price range without any hidden fees. Buyers at WOOVIN are treated with respect, giving you the best deals on your favorite shoes. Can’t find the shoe you’re looking for registered on our site? Let us know. Any other issues and we are never more than a click away from helping you through the problem. We want to make the purchasing part as easy as possible, allowing you to focus on the fun bit: the shoes.
Image: WOOVIN
If you are also interested in selling through WOOVIN, we have a couple of different membership options for you to choose from. We can cater to your needs, from those selling off a couple of pairs from their collections to the largest resellers around. Starting from €4.95 a month, we give all sellers the ability to create their own store, which can be followed by buyers, and to connect their PayPal to be paid directly into without any extra fees. Moreover, all sellers will be verified to confirm their identity and will have an inbuilt review system so that they can build up trust within the community and be rewarded for their efforts. This safe trading system is an essential part of what we want to provide, with WOOVIN staff vetting out any sellers that don’t match our requirements in order to keep your mind at ease when buying through the site.
Image: WOOVIN
Our website will be constantly updated with new sneakers from our sellers who have created stores with us, as well as new blogs on relevant sneaker topics to provide you with all of your sneaker needs. So, take a look around the site and, next time you’re giving your closet a new look, come to WOOVIN to avoid those hidden fees and work with real sneakerheads that share your passion for kicks.
