A collaboration between designer Todd Snyder and popular footwear brand New Balance makes these incredibly sophisticated runners possible. Drawing inspiration from Hudson, New York City, where Snyder spent some time. In particular, the upper of the shoe is reminiscent of "the Hudson Train station's brick depot" and other subtle spacial references.
The sophisticated runners take on the silhouette of the New Balance 997s. The upper is mixed, creating a design that is rich in texture and color -- from the pigskin suede and the vegetable-tanned leather to the tumbled bison leather and the ENCAP midsole.
Available at select stores and through Todd Snyder's e-commerce platform, the collaboration is able to introduce elegance to sporty attire.
Image Credit: Todd Snyder/ New Balance
What's Driving This Trend
- Sophisticated Runners
- The collaboration between Todd Snyder and New Balance demonstrates an opportunity for more high-end, fashionable athletic footwear.
- Textured Design
- The mixing of textures on the upper of the shoes highlights a trend towards more complex and interesting material combinations in footwear design.
- Local Inspiration
- Drawing inspiration from a specific location can help to create unique, meaningful and localized designs for footwear and other products.
Who This Affects Most
- Athletic Footwear
- The collaboration between a designer and established athletic footwear brand demonstrates an opportunity for more fashionable and upscale athletic footwear.
- Fashion
- The introduction of more sophisticated athletic footwear highlights a trend towards blending fashion with function for sportswear.
- Retail
- Collaborations between designers and established brands offer a way for retailers to introduce exclusive, high-end products to their customers.
