Shoes that Separate Style and Structure
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 01.22.07
Whether you love shoes or just have to own a couple of pairs in different colours or styles for different functions, they can take up a lot of space and breaking in new ones can hurt. Mark Klein thought about his and came up with an interesting idea: separate a well fitted, orthopaedic core (the bone) from the stylish "skin" that can be changed in seconds. Result: Instant customization, comfort and style, without the waste of shoe structure that sits in the closet. The bones can last almost forever, while the skins can be replaced as they wear out.
Klein worked on the initial idea with designer Kobi Levy and then"stylized" it up with New York designer Dror Benshetrit. Benshetrit set out to create a simple yet iconic shape that he believed could stand the test of time. “It’s very dangerous introducing something innovative to the market,” he says. “People might think it’s too difficult or weird. So it was really important for me to develop something that was intuitive and logical.” Finally Klein called on the fashion expertise of high-end shoe designers Silvano Banfi and Frank Zambrelli (who have previously worked for companies such as Gucci, Bally, and Coach) to oversee a consistent look across the range of Skins.
“It’s a product that just seems to make a lot of sense,” Klein says. “When people look at it, I want them to scratch their heads and wonder why no one had thought of it before.” ::Metropolis and ::Skins Footwear
Klein says. “When people look at it, I want them to scratch their heads and wonder why no one had thought of it before.”
Umm, it is a very cool idea, but it has been done before. I want to say it was Timberland, but can't recall for sure now. But they had different shells that you could swap the insoles -- pretty much the same idea. Seemed like a good idea then, seems like a good idea now.
Gotta have these! They solve all the problems, like how to store shoes and how to have a comfie pair to walk home in but a business-like pair at the office. Could shove a pair with a glittery skin into the rucksack for evenings after work! And on top of that, they allow to have a really personalized orthopedic fit while minimizing the throw-away part that changes with the fashions.
Kind of like fashionable Galoshes with orthopedic footbeds. Aetrex make great removeable orthopedic footbeds - you can get them through a web site called Most Comfortable Shoes:
http://www.most-comfortable-shoes.com/custom_insoles.html
Are you kidding me. These shoes look beautiful in real life. Check out this video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49q0vz-RV8E