This article was published on June 26 and updated on July 11
Another day, another chapter in the epic sneaker-heel saga. This time, KidSuper has entered the chat.
However, the 2022 CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund finalist is making a case for the 1970s men's dress shoe, which featured generous platform heels that commanded a confident presence on the dance floor and even in the corporate sphere.
After Zellerfeld brought Heron Preston's HERON01s and even the ClaySuper slides to fruition, KidSuper looked once more to the 3D printing whizzes to breathe life into its one-off shoe concept.
And thus, the KidSuper men's dress shoes were born!
Making its way down KidSuper's Spring/Summer 2023 runway and then on the feet of Lewis Hamilton, the "Heal Your Soul, Heel Your Sole" shoe materializes as an eco-friendly, 3D-printed heeled sneaker equipped with a "fully functional" heel, per the brand's press release.
Dressed in an eye-catching royal blue colorway, the Colm Dillane-led art studio's shoe kind of reminds me of Givenchy's sole-free TK-360 sneakers.
Much like the TK-360, KidSuper's bespoke runner touts a structural, contemporary shape rounded off with a hefty, round heel.
It's worthy to point out that KidSuper's latest footwear design is comprised of a single material, despite the appearance of a copious amount of textures. This intentional design technique results in varying depths and differing print finishes, thus emphasizing 3D printing's endless possibilities for the future footwear realm.
Known for approaching fashion design through an artistic lens, KidSuper expands his love for portrait paintings – evident in past collections like its FW20 collection – incorporating sculpted faces on the shoe's vamp and heel.
While the KidSuper "Heal Your Soul, Heel Your Sole" collaboration started as mere concept shoe, the brand plans to release the visage-toting shoe soon, catered and customized specifically to the shape of your foot.
For those looking to channel your inner Anderson .Paak with this 70s-inspired shoe next summer, I'd keep my eyes peeled for updates.
To stay updated on everything happening in the sneaker world, follow @highsnobietysneakers on Instagram, check our sneaker release date calendar, and subscribe to our sneaker chatbot on Facebook to receive lightning-quick updates to your inbox.
