Balenciaga drops $550 sneaker to mixed reactions
15/01/2020
The shoe (pictured) is made of 100% polyurethane, featuring a round toe, elasticated rubber tongue with white printed logo, two lacing openings, topstitching details on the upper, a thin rubber sole with embossed size and logo and a foam insole.
Despite the dramatic shift from the brand's bulky, colourful "dad" shoes, some of the biggest online reaction was to the shoe’s resemblance to similar, lower-cost shoes. For example, a visually-similar shoe by Slazenger (pictured inset) retails for around $65, while Lonsdale, Puma, Nike and Umbro also have shoes that resemble the Zen — some of which use leather as well as synthetic materials.
Reactions have ranged from the suggestion that Balenciaga took its inspiration from Slazenger to musings about whether the luxury brand is playing a trick on the public.
At the same time, Hypebeast has praised the shoe’s sleek look and clean lines, while other publications predicted that the shoe could herald a new direction for luxury footwear.
Image: Balenciaga.com and Slazenger.com
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