Weird Footwear and My Personal Top Six
WHAT ARE THOOOOOOOSE???
Hello again, welcome back. Firstly, I would apologize for taking such long break in between posts but I hope it clear by now that a lot of time usually goes into what I write about whether it’s research or not. For me half the fun in doing this project is the writing aspect; editing, tweaking and perfecting my writing is something I really enjoy taking my time with. So for now I don’t want to hold myself to any strict post schedule in particular but, just know many ideas are in the works and sometimes it’s hard to start working on a piece because I know it will take days to edit until I feel like it’s ready to be published.
With that out fo the way, I want to dive into another topic that I’m very passionate about which is footwear. More specifically, footwear with non-conventional aspects to it or interesting details that really sets it apart. Over the last few years, I’ve committed a lot of time and money to searching for and acquiring shoes that I feel push the boundaries of what a traditional sneaker, loafer, slipper can be. I think it’s fascinating when designers come up with new and innovative ideas and brands are willing to bring those ideas to life. Wearing shoes or clothing that is out there, slightly goofy, or just odd in nature is so much fun and I've found that it can start a really good conversation sometimes. So, without getting carried away, here are my top 6 most interesting/weird pieces of footwear. Enjoy!
New Balance x Tokyo Design Studio Niobium Concept 1 & 2
The Niobium Concept line from New Balance is what sparked my interest in the concept of non-conventional footwear. Both of these pairs in particular focus on the theme of functionality and versatility, and blending those with adaptability. The first version of the Niobium concept released in 2020 as a Snow Peak collaboration, with grey, black and yellow color ways releasing after. The concept 1 features a modular system with 3 different options for wearing the shoe: an eVent water-proof boot, an outdoor mule and a mesh house slipper. The zipper which goes around the ankle is what anchors the waterproof boot to the sole, and can be unzipped and switched with the house slipper to act as the lining for the mule sneaker. It also features a zipper enclosure, adjustable draw chord to synch the opening and uses the same sole mold as the New Balance 801. What I appreciate the most about this shoe is its versatility aspect and how surprisingly well it was executed, the overall design of this silhouette was also done extremely well. It’s a really fun and practical shoe to wear and I love the tonal color ways that they picked for this project, I’ll also note that it’s insanely comfortable.
The second Niobium concept shoe was released in 2021, but this time with an emphasis on breathability and less modularity. New Balance partnered again with Snow Peak to launch the shoe initially with black and dark khaki color way, and of course I got these on release. In my opinion, this shoe doesn't push the boundaries as much as the first version, but it’s still a great looking sneaker. It features a leather and mostly mesh upper with two magnetic fasteners from Fidlock, with the only “modular” feature being a removable ankle-strap that turns the shoe from a sandal to a mule. Although this shoe is a lot simpler than the first, what fascinates me is the design language that New Balance Tokyo Design Studio brings to every project they do. Ever since I discovered them I’ve really enjoyed everything they’ve worked on and they instantly became one of my favorite footwear brands. This shoe uses the midsole mold from the Hierro line of trail runners from New Balance which also feature a custom Vibram outsole. Two more suede versions were later released with earth and water inspired color ways. Another thing I really like about the Niobium line is the utilization of third party technology that enhances the shoes functionality, from the eVent water-proof membrane, the Fidlock magnetic buckles and Vibram outsole are all subtle additions that to me make these shoes that much cooler.
Merrell Hydro Moc AT
Keeping with the modular theme, ever since I saw these shoes teased earlier this year I knew I had to have them. The Hydro Moc AT released just last month, is a concept for the regular Hydro Moc water clog that asks the question: “What if a shoe could be adapted to a variety of different outdoor conditions?” And this is the answer Merrell 1TRL came up with. The shoe was originally shown as a foam outer cage with three interchangeable liners: a ripstop quilted liner, a GORE-TEX neoprene boot, and a 200g Primaloft insulated boot. The outer cage is split down the middle and has an elastic chord that runs zig-zag through the drainage holes with a toggle lock and a velcro back-strap in the heel for extra adjustability. I picked up the ripstop-lined version in olive for more practical daily use but I was looking forward to picking up all the other versions. Sadly, each liner is sold as its own separate shoe with the cage included, meaning I’d end up with three separate shoes altogether. All in all this is an amazingly well executed concept which combines both of the ideas from the Niobium concepts into one single shoe. The outdoor functionality is what really fascinates me about shoe, I truly wish all brands would be willing to push the boundaries like this more often. The Hydro Moc AT line is still available and can be purchased here.
Hender Scheme Code Tip Smooth in Dark Brown
This next shoe is a grail I never even knew I needed until I came across it. Hender Scheme is a Japan based shoe and leather goods manufacturer known for their expert craftsmanship and exorbitant prices. I was only previously familiar with their “Manual Industrial Product” line which basically recreates iconic footwear models in full grain vegetable dyed cowhide, handmade and nailed in Tokyo. Some of the shoes their known for reimagining are the Nike Air Force 1, the Timberland 6 Inch Boot, Converse Chuck Taylor’s and even Crocs, (yes, crocs). I stumbled across this particular model on eBay while scouring the internet for deals on this brand as a whole. The Code Tip model is a traditional brogue dress shoe on a 132 Commando Lug outsole from Vibram. It’s made out of English Bridle leather and calfskin lining, but the most interesting aspect of this shoe is the elastic, drawcord closure system that takes inspiration from outdoor brands like Keen, Salomon and other amphibious footwear. The purpose of a drawcord closing system is meant for quick and accessible lacing under dry or wet conditions, giving the wearer a fully personalized fit and custom level of snug. I know the previous shoe used the exact same lacing system however to incorporate this into a dress shoe is absolutely genius in my opinion and is another reason why Hender Scheme is my favorite (non-sneaker) shoe brand of all time. These shoes retail for a whopping $700 (with some versions reaching $1000), but I was able to strike a deal for $300 with the eBay seller. Other versions of this shoe are available including an all-black color way along with fluorescent yellow and orange laced iterations, as well as an amazing “shaggy” suede multi-tone version.
BEAMS x Crocs Classic All-Terrain Outdoor Clog
This is probably one of the ugliest shoes I own on paper. In person however, I think they’re insanely cool. These shoes ask: “How can we make a pair of crocs- even uglier?” Beams answered that question in 2021 with their fourth Crocs collaboration, which have gotten progressively weirder and weirder over time so I'm very excited for what they’ll think of next. Consisting of two models and four color ways, these clogs take inspiration from both military and outdoor aesthetics. I went for the outdoor clog obviously, which borrows from fishing vests and trekking packs and absolutely overdoes it by packing it all into a rubber clog. This pair features a fabric cover on the entire vamp of the clog which is folded over on both sides and held down by a fabric strap and buckle, with a carabiner included for good measure. The front features a ridiculous zipper pouch for all your legal or illegal storage needs and a net pocket for any left over cargo, this came in a tan/grey and grey/black color way. The military clog takes from bomber jackets and army packs which have molle webbing for maximum carrying capabilities. The shoe also includes a removable cargo pouch on the heel strap which can be attached to the upper if needed, this pair was made in tonal khaki and black colors. Both of these shoes take the idea of utility to ridiculous and flip it on its head while taking it ridiculous lengths.
Asics x Limited Edt x SBTG GEL-Lyte III “Monsoon Patrol”
Last but not least, we have a sneaker finally from Asics along with Singaporean retailer Limited Edt and sneaker customizer SBTG Surplus Co. This shoe was inspired by the seasonal wind change in Southeast Asia known as a monsoon, which during the winter marks the beginning of the rainy season in countries like Singapore. Meteorology lessons aside, these shoes are sick. Yes, there is a lot going on with this shoe but looking at each aspect individually lets you see just how much detail was put into this sneaker. Firstly, this GEL-Lyte III is decked out in a combination of hairy suede, regular suede, padded nylon and leather in a variety of suede tones. The grey color way is reminiscent of a typical New Balance shoe however these sneakers focus a lot more on texture. The front toe box features a quilted nylon similar to a puffer jacket while the other panels are either leather, suede or synthetic. The shoe features a double lacing system with both laces having toggle lace locks like many trail runners. The black laces have a very similar zig-zag pattern to some Nike x Off-White sneakers by Virgil Abloh, however they’re hidden behind a padded shroud with the words “MONSOON PATROL” printed in a tonal grey. The only factor missing from this sneaker is a GORE-TEX lining which would’ve fit perfectly with the monsoon theme. I was so intrigued by these sneakers since I found them while searching for a GEL-Lyte III and I was even happier to get them for less than retail on StockX! I highly recommend this classic model from Asics, it’s super comfortable and there’s a new collaboration coming out almost every month.
Phew… Well, that's another article with me geeking over items I own and think are insanely cool. I hope I’m not coming off as too materialistic in these pieces, my intent is to showcase interesting items that I’ve come across and acquired since getting into fashion. And many of them in the future might be things I don’t personally own or wouldn’t even wear myself, but still think are worth diving into and analyzing. I’m planning on the next piece to be more conceptual and thought-provoking so expect it to come in the next few weeks. I just started my final semester of college so even though I don’t expect to be extremely busy, I will certainly have a lot on my plate. I really appreciate anyone reading this, hopefully this sparked your interest in one of these shoes, a brand or just the concept of strange looking shoes as a whole.
Thank you and till next time,
-D