Research : Yeezy Foam Runner

 In this week I will be choosing one piece of work by an artist on which I will be researching to discuss on my blog.

KANYE WEST

The work I choose is Adidas Yeezy Foam Runner designed by popular rapper Kanye West. The Foam Runner is currently popular, offering new colorways and an accessible retail price point, potentially surpassing even Crocs in popularity. It was first released in the years 2019. It is anticipated that this move to sustainable materials would generate a lot of buzz. “The Yeezy Foam Runner is difficult to define. Though a lifestyle shoe at the end of the day, the silhouette melds multiple influences and ideas for something entirely brand new and unfamiliar to the Yeezy brand as we know it. Steven Smith, when referencing his time working with Kanye, even had this to say:Together we create these things that are like resets of where the business is at” (Kim, 2021). In spite of its environmentally friendly design, the Foam Runner is really a general public daily sneaker that provides great comfort in bathrooms and bodegas. Its radical design is underappreciated, even though it resembles Crocs.

 

YEEZY FOAM RUNNER

In the shoe business, EVA foam is a common secondary material that is used to provide comfort to the soles of shoes. Not just the soles but the entire shoe structure of the Foam Runner is made of EVA. This flexible, rubbery, soft copolyester may be thermoformed, blown mould, extruded, and injected into moulds, making it perfect for footwear. “Adidas has previously used polyurethane in products such as Adidas slides, which is potentially another material used in Yeezy’s, paired with this EVA foam” (Aysoon, Batoon and Heydarfadai, 2023). Yeezy has stated that the distinctive form was made using moulds, most likely with polyurethane. “Polyurethane can be cross linked with EVA, if this is the case with the Yeezy foam runner, additional raw materials that would be considered are, isocyanates, polyols, hydroxybenzotriazole, monomeric and polymeric hindered phenols, all used in polyethylene”(Aysoon, Batoon and Heydarfadai, 2023). Due to its tolerance to high temperatures, EVA foam has restrictions that may shorten its useful life. It can, however, be recycled into concrete and composites, especially low-density open-cell EVA foam with minimal complexity , which might find use for solutions for oil spills. However, EVA is challenging to utilize in other applications since recycling requires weaker polymer stock before cross-linking.

After having a detail look over Yeezy foam runner I got adequate knowledge about the footwear I am looking at. Although I wasn’t satisfied so I started looking more into reading some customer review to know what are the key factor that most of the Gen-Z are getting attract towards is the style or the design of Yeezy roam runner? Or the Alien looks or the comfort and material? 

“People also love the fact that the artistic design is something that can enhance their outfits instead of detracting from them. Whether you're going on a long flight or showing up at someone's epic birthday party, you can rely on your Foam Runners to keep you comfortable and to make a bold fashion statement”(“Everything You Need to Know about the Yeezy Foam Runner, 2022”).

“However, some reviewers warn that it's best to avoid jogging in your Foam Runner when it's significantly wet out. The wavy traction on the bottom of the footwear is sufficient for everyday use but can be a bit slippery when it's wet out” (“Everything You Need to Know about the Yeezy Foam Runner, 2022”).

Reflecting towards the design and material with the help of the review/ comments I got from Kicks Crew webpage. I got a support for my idea that the people especially Gen-Z love wearing slider and light weights footwear which is breathable. Moreover, this piece of research helps to to understand about the material which is EVA foam from which I can more likely design my major project. Although, the material EVA foam is not very much reliable but considering this materials advantages and disadvantages I will be using it and more likely next I will be looking at colour option and other material for my further research.

Reference:-

               Kim, John.(2021) “What Is the Yeezy Foam Runner? An Overview | SneakerNews.com.” Sneaker News, 1 June 2021, sneakernews.com/2021/06/01/what-is-the-yeezy-foam-runner/. Accessed 13 Feb. 2024.

Aysoon, G., Batoon, S. and Heydarfadai, S. (2023). Yeezy Foam Runner. [online] Design Life-Cycle. Available at: http://www.designlife-cycle.com/yeezy-foam-runner [Accessed 13 Feb. 2024].

            “Everything You Need to Know about the Yeezy Foam Runner.” KICKS CREW, 27 June 2022, www.kickscrew.com/blogs/sneakernews/everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-yeezy-foam-runner. Accessed 17 Feb. 2024.