Aside from futuristic technology like self-lacing sneakers and featherweight woven textiles, irony is arguably the biggest trend in sneaker culture right now. Chunky, dad shoes are legitimately cool, and have been for some time, off the back of silhouettes like the adidas Originals x Raf Simons Ozweego, the New Balance 990, and even throwback models like the FILA Disruptor.
The Balenciaga Triple S is the biggest story in sneaker culture right now, and the shoe's design may contain some references that prove irony has come full circle as a trend.
It's hard to refute the clear similarities between Balenciaga's Triple S and Skechers's D-Lite silhouette. The history of Sketchers comparisons goes back some years, and the brand has previously imitated shoes like the Air Max 95 (Skechers Energy 2) and the adidas Springblade (Skechers MegaBlade), but the brand now finds itself on the other end of the equation.
The rubber toe cap, heel tab, midsole arch, and treaded outsole all begin to form the case, but it's really the Triple S tongue branding that makes any comparison difficult to refute. The typography used by Balenciaga may as well have come from the Skechers branding manual.
But here's the best part... It's very likely the name Triple S itself could be a subtle reference to the design of Skechers's "S" logo, which is comprised by three separate S silhouettes, overlapping to form a single graphic. Given that for his own brand Vetements, Demna has incorporated irreverent references to international courier service DHL, German metal band Rammstein, and even the German police, a Skechers reference would fit right into the designer's wheelhouse.
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