Sneakers are fun to watch as they come in various styles. In fact, they have much in common with personal mobility products that we specialize in as designers.

In the mid 1990’s, when I was a middle-school and high-school student, I saw hi-tech sneakers enjoying an enormous boom. Influenced by the latest features such as the air-cushion sole system and the wire lace system, I drew some illustrations of sneakers based on my imagination for their new functions and structures. Since then, sneakers have gone through various changes in design in combination with the latest functions applied to them. Meanwhile, some of them have kept their original styles for more than 40 years by skillfully applying CMFG design.

The picture below shows silver-color monochromatic sneakers. I found this model, which reminded me of an image of spacecraft, being displayed in a shoe store I recently visited. I had a sense of déjà vu at the sight of it. But at the same time, it made me wonder if people were beginning to have aspirations and expectations for the future amid the ongoing trend for ethical products and earth color designs.

CMFG design for sneakers directly reflects the atmosphere of the era. We hear people say fashionable styles start from what we wear on our feet. Sneaker designs always make me realize emotional values they produce and give me some inspirations.

Satoshi Harizuka
CMFG Design Dept.
Unit Leader