Jan 2, 2018 | By Julia
Fans of tech-forward, luxury sneakers can already start their wishlist for 2018. Rumours are a-buzz that Adidas will be bringing back its much coveted Futurecraft 4D kicks in March of this year. While the new release will be very limited, with approximately 100,000 pairs to be shipped only to friends, family, and Consortium stores, the specs are bright: these Primeknit sneakers feature the brand’s signature Three Stripes in white alongside Ash Green midsoles produced using Adidas’ impressive Digital Light Synthesis process. Other teased samples have included a sleek blue tint across the uppers, and both versions are set to be priced at $400 USD.
As the latest evolution in Adidas’ ongoing experimentation with 3D printed sneakers, the new Futurecraft 4D line builds on the 2015-released 3D Runner, the much-buzzed-about running shoe that boasted a black Primeknit upper reminiscent of Yeezys or Ultra Boosts, and a special midsole crafted from 3D printed materials. In December of 2016, Adidas went one step further with their original Futurecraft 4D shoe, the product of a new collaboration with Silicon Valley tech company Carbon. Constructed using Carbon’s Digital Light Synthesis technique, the Futurecraft 4D line involved a production method similar to a type of 3D printing known as Digital Light Processing. This technique involves curing liquid resin (specifically, Carbon’s EPU 40 material) via state-of-the-art light projection, allowing the resin to be hardened layer by layer as it forms a unique midsole designed for function, comfort, and style.
Adidas’ upcoming re-release of the Futurecraft 4D kicks will feature those same production methods, but with a new twist: an exclusive collaboration with Taiwanese fashion brand Invincible, renowned for its previous work with rival sports brands including Nike, Reebok, Converse, and New Balance. As senior director of Adidas Originals Daniel Bauer notes, the new collaboration keeps well in line with Adidas’ Consortium ethos. Established in 2005, the collab-heavy Consortium project “is not only about product,” Bauer says. “We – as a brand – want to connect with the most influential retailers around the world. These stores are in key cities, and they have expertise when it comes to their customers. It’s a good network.” Built on mutual respect between Adidas and their creative partners, Bauer explains that the Consortium project is devoted to bringing “something to the consumer that we couldn’t do by ourselves, and instead [try] to give a bit of the essence of what both partners stand for.” As a rising luxury sports brand, Invincible is a natural choice for the new Adidas partnership, and as shown in the samples, has done an excellent job of fusing their cool street aesthetic with Adidas’ emphasis on craftsmanship and tech-forward design.
While the first teasers have specified that the new kicks remain for Adidas’ friends and families only, onlookers are already calling 2018 “the year of 4D”, and rightly so. As was the case with the 2016 Futurecraft 4D line, the re-release is expected to incorporate an official app for reserving the shoe, along the lines of the previously seen Adidas Confirmed. But until an official announcement is made, your best bet is to keep a close watch on the Adidas channels for more hints as they’re dropped.
the 2016 Futurecraft 4D sneaker
Posted in 3D Printing Application
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