It's the exquisite combination of radically different materials that made Gucci's ultra-bulky bejeweled sneakers a highlight in the Fall/Winter 2018 presentation. The shoe design takes cues from outdoorsy footwear with its chunky and durable sole, as well as from runners with its meshy interior, casual shoes with the suede hits and luxurious high-fashion with a strappy crystal band that goes dramatically across the silhouette.
The haute couture label offers its bejeweled sneakers for men and women in a variety of colorways, "including a multi-colored iteration and an all-white version." It may come as no surprise that these ultra-luxe bejeweled sneakers will be quick to sell out due to their incredibly engaging mixed-material use and their effortless statement-making exterior.
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- Mixed-material Footwear
- The use of radically different materials in footwear presents opportunities for unique design aesthetics and enhanced functionality.
- Statement-making Sneakers
- Designing sneakers that combine fashion and function through bold and attention-grabbing designs can create a lucrative market niche.
- Unisex Luxury Sneakers
- Creating designer sneakers that cater to both men and women can expand the potential consumer base and increase sales.
Where This Applies
- Footwear Manufacturing
- Manufacturing companies can explore the use of mixed materials and bold designs to create unique and in-demand footwear.
- Fashion Design
- Designers can experiment with unconventional and bold materials to create high-end sneakers that cater to a fashion-forward audience.
- Luxury Retail
- Luxury retailers can target a wider and more diverse range of consumers by catering to both men and women with high-end unisex sneaker collections.
