Shanghai-based retail imprint ACU works in collaboration with sportswear brand Li-Ning on a new iteration of the Wade 10 sneaker model spotlighting the Top Scholar colorway. The shoes are designed with inspiration from two mythical Chinese figures that are seen across the upper adorned by laser-printed application in the form of Shan-Shui art.
It is accented with details that resemble the look of patterned wood along with ACU's acupuncture logos and Dwayne Wade's signature motifs and stylized logo text for more branding accents. Touches of jade green are seen detailing the midfoot and the pull tab sections followed by burgundy and gold that accents the plays and contrast stitching details. It is rounded out by carbon accents at the lateral side and bottom.
Image Credit: ACU
Why This Trend Is Growing
- Chinese-inspired Sneakers
- Incorporate traditional Chinese design elements into modern footwear to create unique styles with cultural significance.
- Collaborative Sportswear Collections
- Partner with well-known athletes and sports brands to create limited edition, highly sought-after sneaker collections.
- Luxury Athletic Footwear
- Integrate high-end design elements and premium materials into athletic footwear to appeal to fashion-conscious consumers.
Industries Being Reshaped
- Sportswear
- Sportswear companies can collaborate with retailers and focus on marketing limited, culturally inspired collections of footwear.
- Fashion
- The popularity of luxury athletic footwear creates opportunities for fashion companies to create high-end sportswear lines.
- Retail
- Retailers can incorporate culturally significant design elements into fashionable sportswear to target an increasingly diverse customer base.
