American footwear giant New Balance has unveiled three new vibrant colorways of its recently released XC-72 model, a sneaker said to be inspired by the technological utopianism of the 1970s; in particular, '70s-era racing cars.
As a result, the sneakers boast an eye-catching and heavily textured design that features a speckled outsole, hairy suede upper panels, and an 'N' logo made from 100% recycled materials. In addition, the shoes deliver an almost experimental quality thanks to their low-cut built, vertically split outsole, and square-toed finish.
The three new color offerings include 'Spring Tide/Eclipse,' 'Black/Calm Taupe,' and 'Burgundy/Wheat Field,' each of which works to highlight the silhouettes avant-garde edge. All three versions are now available to purchase on New Balance's website.
'70s-Era Racing-Inspired Sneakers
New Balance Unveils Three New XC-72 Colorways
Trend Themes
1. '70s-inspired Sneakers - Opportunity for other shoe brands and designers to tap into the nostalgia trend and create their own line of sneakers inspired by the 70s era.
2. Textured Sneaker Design - Possible disruption in the shoe industry as more brands experiment with texture and unique design elements to differentiate their products from competitors.
3. Sustainability in Sneaker Production - Opportunity for shoe brands to follow New Balance's lead and invest in sustainable materials production to address consumer demand for eco-friendly fashion options.
Industry Implications
1. Shoe Manufacturing - With more shoe brands introducing unique, nostalgia-inspired designs, shoe manufacturers will need to adopt innovative technology and materials to support these new trends in footwear.
2. Fashion Design - New opportunities may arise for fashion designers to create clothing lines that pair with the new trend of retro or 70s-inspired shoe designs.
3. Sustainability in Manufacturing - With an increasing demand for sustainable products, manufacturers in all industries will need to be aware of new developments in eco-friendly production practices and materials.