German sportswear purveyor adidas has debuted its new ingenious Futurecraft STRUNG sneaker silhouette, which is constructed from a new type of textile.
After exploring various recyclable materials and biodegradable options, adidas pioneered the textile, named STRUNG, which helps to improve a running shoe’s upper by making it more lightweight and durable.
According to adidas, STRUNG is the first textile and creation process that allows the brand’s future real engineers to feed an individual’s data, obtained by foot movement, to a custom-built robot. This new technology will also allow for more precise zones on the sneaker for breathability, flexibility, and support.
Unlike current shoe manufacturers that can place threads for the upper material either horizontally or vertically, the custom-built robots are capable of running the threads at all different angles. This multi-layering is done with strings that are colour-coded for strength and flexibility.
Red threads are used on the heel, toe-box, and midfoot regions, the major load-bearing areas, to provide strength for the wearer, while yellow threads can be seen running over the forefoot to provide additional flexibility. Over 1,000 threads are used to create the Futurecraft STRUNG.
Based on Futurecraft Loop technology adidas unveiled last year (which uses fully-reusable thermoplastic polyurethane materials and no adhesives to hold sneakers together), the Futurecraft STRUNG creates almost no-waste in the shoemaking process, adding to its eco-friendly credentials as well as its performance benefits.
The Futurecraft STRUNG’s minimalist midsole is created from adidas’ most revolutionary 4D lattice design to date and features a new shape to cater to forefoot strikers. Over on the rear, the heel has been minimized to remove the weight, while the rubber outsole has been specifically engineered to provide traction at the most needed points. Finally, the insoles are produced by 3D printer manufacturer Carbon and have been created using an industry-first textile printing process.
Unfortunately, the adidas Futurecraft STRUNG is currently not commercially available. However, development on the model will continue over the next year with a marketable version targeted to launch in early 2022.
All images in this article are courtesy of adidas.
