Probably not, as they’re brand new. This Berlin company Kickstarted itself into existence with a classic concept (quality materials, handcrafting) and an authentic open kitchen approach (check out their site) to why they deserve to be purchased by you (me), in a world where consumers become converts to global sneaker gods.
Atheist doesn’t believe in any shoe
The Atheists are made in Guimarães Portugal, using high grade Nubuk, calfskin, and other leathers.
An Atheist shoe begins with 3 pieces of natural, unprocessed leather
They even make a vegan imitation leather option for your vegan friends (you’re still friends right?). Their website is a great read in itself. As an American barraged by the billboards of Broadway daily, I find Atheist’s campaign to be refreshing in its honesty, and entertaining with its info.
Skechers has made an endorsement deal with a horse.
Image from photo by Anthony Gruppuso, USA TODAY Sports
Skechers, a marketing company that just happens to be in the footwear business, has draped California Chrome with this blue training blanket and a big sponsorship deal for the Belmont Stakes in Elmont, New York this weekend. Of course Mr. S will not be wearing two pairs of Skechers on the track. The crew will don the sneakers, and if Chrome wins, expect to see all Skechers everything everywhere. For information on the actual horseshoes attached to California Chrome’s hooves by an equine footwear blacksmith click here.
This popdiatribe is going, going, done! Check back soon~ C
Still image from the Young Liars “Night Window” video directed by Nathan Boey
Last weekend this 700-balloon sculpture of a running shoe created by Ryan Oelrich was displayed during the annual Bloomsday race and trade show in Spokane, Washington.
Image: http://downtownspokane.kxly.com
What about a running sneaker in a toaster oven?
Heating the soles off for inspiration
Golden Harper, founder of running shoe company Altra, came up with the idea for his specialty line of trainers after doing modifications to existing running shoes. He would heat sneakers in a toaster oven to melt the glues in order to pull the chunky soles off to create minimalist prototypes. These became the precursors to Altra, which employs a thin, flat sole that is equally thick from toe to heel. In 2014, Altras can be found in over 700 running shoe stores nationwide.
Footwear brand Skechers added two-time Olympian distance runner Kara Goucher to their sponsored roster.
Feel free to start a rumor that you are interested in buying Rockport. Rockport’s parent company Adidas, is reportedly looking to sell off the dressy brand that it acquired when it bought Reebok back in ’05.
Danner Boots opened their first store outside their home state of Oregon in Renton, Washington. It will stock a huge collection of Danners, including many models which are made in the USA.
Here at Popdiatry, we advocate seeking out the ultimate in footwear comfort. This often means being cognizant of your foot’s width, which often leads to buying wider footwear. It tickled my pinky toes to learn that there is a mini-chain of shoe shops in Washington state called Wide Shoes Only. Read the article about them here.
Lina Ahn, owner of Wide Shoes Only, poses with some size 18 New Balances. Image from Heraldnet.com
By law of averages, someone we interact with today wears footwear manufactured at a Yue Yuen Industrial production facility- most likely in China. Yue Yuen is the world’s biggest branded shoe and sneaker maker- think 3 stripes and the swoosh. For the past week, thousands of workers at a couple Chinese Yue Yuen factories have been in various stages of a strike; the biggest being estimated at 30,000 at a Y.Y. in Guangdong province. The issue seems on its way to being resolved in favor of the workers’ concerns. Meanwhile, Nike and Adidas look towards Vietnam as the place where a majority of their shoes will be made as wages and working conditions (hopefully) improve in China.
The guy who won the Boston Marathon wasn’t wearing Nikes, Adidas, New Balances, Under Armours, Newtons, or Altras while crossing the finish line. Wicked fast runner Meb Keflezighi has been sponsored by Skechers since 2011, and was wearing a pair from the company’s performance line of sneaks when he broke the tape on Boylston Street Monday. Next year I’d love to see him do a repeat while wearing a pair of Skechers’s infamous Shape Ups shoes.
TMZ is reporting that Chicago Bull Joakim Noah sued his former sneaker sponsor Le Coq Sportif last year. Le Coq countersued. The issue was settled last month. Noah now balls with Adidas. Today he was named the 2014 NBA defensive player of the year.
Pop boy act One Direction now have their own sneaker-shoes. Country singer Miranda Lambert debuted her own line of footwear. Brown Shoe Co. (act like you never had some Buster Browns) just celebrated 100 years on the New York Stock Exchange. Brown even had a little celebration at the NYSE building where Black Eyed Pea Fergie (has her own line with Brown) rang the closing bell Wednesday. Former prez George H.W. Bush has his own line of striped, colorful signature socks. What ? Check out GeorgeBushSocks.com
Those Bush socks are a little too loud for my tastes. In efforts to step up my sock game though- I did visit the REI store in SOHO last week and spent an inordinate amount of time in their impressively-stocked sock isles. I walked out with a purchase of Injinji toe socks- my first ever purchase of this type of sock. Look for a quick review in a future Popdiatribe.
Speaking of commanders-in-chief, the U.S. Armed forces are in the process of testing some new boot models. Last month I wrote about the Berry Amendment – that mandates the U.S. Department of Defense must give preference to domestically-produced items. For footwear this means that government-issued soldier boots must be made in America. A push to be Berry-compliant has created a little healthy competition amongst American manufacturers. Who can make the most comfortable, durable, quickest-drying boot that service members will love? Time shall tell. I’m not even sure at this time which brand produced the model below. The results of all these prototypes will certainly lead to civilian consumers getting some fresh boot options down the road.
Image from Army.milI couldn’t resist posting another still from that Dr. Scholl’s DreamWalk ad campaign. The special effects people did a great job making the womens’ shoes morph into monsters.
