Michelin extends sole project to skate shoes
19/01/2017
In 2014, Michelin announced a partnership with Chinese textile manufacturer Jihua to beigin developing a range of high-performance soles for the technical footwear market. At the time, it said it was targeting a 10% share of this market. It has already created soles for a range of brands, including sportswear manufacturer Under Armour, outdoor brand Salewa and mountain footwear specialist AKU.
It has designed a sole specifically for Etnies’s Marana OG shoe, an update to one of the brand’s most popular designs. Using its Outdoor tyre rubber compound as the starting point, Michelin created a durable, abrasion resistant and slip resistant sole. The companies said it is the start of a long-term partnership to drive innovation in skate shoes.
Michelin said that it “completely reinvented the Marana outsole”. The criteria it worked towards were low weight, flexibility, grip and durability. Rick Marmolijo, Etnies designer, explained that increasing the durability of the rubber traditionally used in skate shoes tends to reduce its flexibility and grip. Michelin has managed to create a more durable sole without compromising on the other performance requirements. It is expected to last four times longer than the outsole used in previous Marana models.
Share this story:
