Chinese sportswear brand Peak Sport recently introduced PEAK-TAICHI as an all-new, high-tech midsole material, as well as a first-of-its-kind adaptive smart running shoe called 'TAICHI 1.0' based on the new material.
The most notable part of PEAK-TAICHI is that it is made of P4U, a smart polymer material that boasts the ability react to environmental stress. It is noted that "Under normal conditions, the material is soft to the touch, however, can become athletically firm on impact yet return to a comfortable soft state once the external force disappears." As such, the material offers different advantages to the wearer based on their dynamic movements.
In the future, Peak Sport plans to introduce more PEAK-TAICHI products in the form of footwear, performance underwear and safety protectors.
What's Driving This Trend
- Adaptive Running Shoes
- There's an opportunity for sportswear companies to develop running shoes with materials that can automatically adjust to different movements.
- Smart Polymers
- The use of P4U smart polymers has disruptive innovation potential in the development of sportswear materials that can react to environmental stress.
- PEAK-TAICHI Product Line
- Peak Sport can expand their product line with more PEAK-TAICHI products, such as athletic wear and safety protectors, to offer consumers a wider range of products made with innovative materials.
Who This Affects Most
- Sportswear
- The sportswear industry can innovate by incorporating smart materials like P4U into their products to cater to consumers who demand high-tech gear.
- Footwear
- Footwear companies have the opportunity to create shoes with PEAK-TAICHI midsoles, as they offer dynamic support for the wearer.
- Athletic Performance
- Using materials like PEAK-TAICHI that can adjust based on dynamic movement has the potential to revolutionize athletic performance gear.
