Some are concepts, others are sculptures, they’re all wild. At some point, the algorithm began blessing me with conceptual shoes to trip out on–and I’ve got to share some of my favorites with you. Whether they’re made with AI, recycled materials, or sheer creativity, every one of these shoes pushes the concept of footwear past the point of comfort.
MSCHF Big Red Boot
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We wouldn’t be doing this list justice if we didn’t start with the MSCHF Big Red Boot that took social media by storm making all of us question if this was a joke. Still, they sold out.
Concept inspired by the sculptures of Ursula Commandeur
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UV Zhu is a conceptual artist from China who shares futuristic outfits and shoe concepts like this one that force you to think. For example, how strong are those little fibers to support a human being?
The Creature by Yaku Stapleton
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The Creature shoes are art, but they are also real, and they defy the way we think about the structure of footwear. Textile artist Yaku Stapleton created the chartreuse pair with used sneakers, cotton jersey scraps, and a scrap paper pattern.
Pet Liger goes 2010s club casual, but better
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The sleek line of this shoe reminds me of a chic version of the business casual club aesthetic of the 2010s, it’s perfect, and totally conceptual. This shoe was created by an Instagram user named Pet Liger.
Aliveform by Commeconception
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This next shoe, from the second Aliveform collection from Commeconception, is 3D printed and is reminiscent of the Adidas Yeezy Foam Runners but less anti-semetic.
MSCHF Collab by THE UNTITLED RAF SIMONS PROJECT
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If you’re starting to question which way is up, then you’re just in time because this next shoe defies directional understanding. The shoe is a MSCHF Brands project shared by the Instagram account listed as “THE UNTITLED RAF SIMONS PROJECT.”
Vernum FR33ZA Clogs by Hubane
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I’m not even going to lie to you though, I would absolutely wear this next pair from Hubane—Mr. Freeze could never. The slip on clogs are water-resistant, with a Tempur-Pedic cushioned sole and a groove pattern on the outsole that conforms to your foot.
SHUTTLE by Jonathan Pohl Hannemann
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Those who have always looked down at their shoes and said, “I wish I had a handle on these” are in luck, because that is exactly what Jonathan Pohl Hannemann did with this 3D printed footwear.
studio runner 002 by Cullen Kerner
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If this shoe looks like it belongs in the Metaverse, that’s because it does. The studio runner 002 was “sculpted in virtual reality” by Cullen Kerner and sold as a 3D printable file.
Murex Shell Shoes by Botter Paris
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The 3D printed Murex Shell Shoes were designed by Botter, a fashion brand fueled by Carribbean culture, which is witnessed in the absolute fish realness being served by this completely human model.
Please don’t misunderstand this list, we aren’t mocking the designers and artists crafting these products, each of these shoes is beautifully creative. But much in the same way a hit of cannabis widens your understanding of reality, each piece forces us to reimagine how we see both functional and fashionable footwear.