# Futuristic Sandal Hybrid Sneakers The Versace Mercury Boasts a Stealthy Chunky Silhouette By Amy Duong | Published 2024-05-22 | Fashion Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/versace-mercury References: [highsnobiety](https://www.highsnobiety.com/p/versace-mercury-sneaker-sandal/) & [highsnobiety](https://www.highsnobiety.com/l/berlin-store/)  The [Versace Mercury](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/taichi-sakura) sneaker is the latest to launch from the luxe Italian fashion house. The shoes fall somewhere between a sandal and a sneaker with its [hybrid theme](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/radar-sneaker). It rests on top of a large sole unit supporting a retro design with a zig-zag-roped upper similar to a [technical hiking shoe](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/hike-sneaker). The fashion house describes the shoe, “the Versace Mercury sneaker is not just a shoe; it's a future artifact." It boasts a sci-fi inspiration and the construction is retro and carefully made by artisans in Italy. Every pair is comprised of 16 meters of hand-woven crochet rope that takes a meticulous 3 hours to create. The entire shoe is created by a team of 27 craftspeople and it launched on June 4th. Image Credit: Versace ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 7.4/10 - Popularity: 100% | Activity: 99% | Freshness: 24% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Fashion](https://www.trendhunter.com/fashion) ## Key Themes ### Key Themes Behind This Trend - **Hybrid-footwear Evolution:** The seamless blend of sandals and sneakers points to a burgeoning interest in footwear versatility. - **Artisanal-tech Fusion:** Hand-woven craftsmanship integrated with high-tech design highlights a unique convergence of tradition and modernity. - **Sci-fi Fashion Aesthetics:** The sci-fi inspiration offers a unique appeal that could transform future fashion trends with its futuristic and imaginative concepts. ### Where This Applies - **Luxury Footwear:** The meticulous hand-crafted approach enhances the exclusivity and appeal of high-end, luxuriously designed shoes. - **Athleisure Market:** The hybrid nature of the product suggests disruptive potential in the rapidly growing athleisure segment, where functionality meets style. - **Fashion Technology:** Innovation in combining artisanal skills with advanced technological designs marks significant progression in fashion technology. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Hybrid Leather Sneakers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/taichi-sakura.md) - [Chunky Dynamic Trail Sneakers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/speedarc-surge-boa.md) - [Vibrant Luxurious Panelling Sneakers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/yellow-orbit.md) - [Sneaker-Like Leather Mules](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/goods-services-mule.md) - [Y2K-Inspired Luxury Sneakers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/valentino-garavani-1.md) - [Luxe Organically Shaped Shoes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mad-architects-and-fendi.md) - [Luxe Streamlined Retro Sneakers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/orbit-flash.md) - [Retro-Futuristic Chunky Sneakers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/wonder-runner.md) - [Sculptural Mary Jane Sneakers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/karst-finch.md)