ADIDAS Y-3 _RUNNER4D io

adidas adidasy3 design footweardesign Y3 yohjiyamamoto

ADIDAS Y-3 - Runner 4D io

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"adidas‘ Yohji Yamamoto-helmed division Y-3 has played with 4D light, oxygen and liquid resin fuel technology for a number of years now, releasing sought-after pairs such as the inaugural RUNNER 4D and more.

Now, the technical Y-3 label has gone back to the drawing board and has released an all-new sneaker, dubbed

the

RUNNER 4D io

The Y-3 RUNNER 4D IO is available in “Footwear White/Black” and “Black/Trace Khaki,” with both looking as technical and futuristic as each other. The white pair shows off the shoe’s details best — namely its transparent mesh outer layer that acts as a window to the inside of the shoe, where you’ll find a detachable Primeknit sock branded with Y-3 logos and finished with contrasting colors to help split up the shoe’s components.

A set of Three Stripes appear on the medial side of the Primeknit inner sock, while “Y-3 adidas | YOHJI YAMAMOTO” branding has been added to the outer mesh lining. For the black pair, “Trace Khaki” has been used to detail elements including the outsole that lines the full-length black-tinted 4D midsole, and the tongue, heel, toe detailing, and heel cup."

Hypebeast

"Through experimentation and expression, Y-3 transforms a running style for the new era. The transparent upper of the Runner 4D IO shoes reveals the adidas Primeknit sock underneath, detachable with a hook-and-loop construction.

An innovative fusion of light, oxygen and liquid resin fuel the midsole, delivering precisely-tuned cushioning.

Lace closure Ripstop upper includes two interchangeable adidas Primeknit socks. Neoprene tongue lining adidas 4D midsole Continental™ Rubber outsole for extraordinary traction in wet and dry conditions."

WrongWeather

New upper on existing 4D midsole

development : Oury Hermes & Elisa Amerio

product manager : Lukas Ruprecht

midsole design : adidas Running / adidas Future / Carbon4D

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2019

Since the beginning of his collaboration with adidas, Yohji Yamamoto has always brought an new eye and vision to the sport-products,

not only to their silhouette and aesthetic, but also to the construction, and more particularly in this case : the future technologies.w

The inspiration for this project directly came from 4D printed midsole,

which features a computer-engineered hollowed volume, revealing the beauty of the inner structure.

There we wondered :

What if we focused on the outside as well as on the inside of the shoe ?

That way we would compliment the design of the inner structure of the 4D midsole

and hopefully would create a product that you can see, touch, feel from any surface :

" inside & outside "

First researches of lines, shapes and construction, in sketches and prototypes.

The idea was to have a fully see-through upper holding a removable inner sock carrying the Y-3 logo .

Most of the reinforcements panels and details would be featured on the inside instead of in the outside of the upper.

First in-house prototype

with minimal design on the outside of the shoe : raw-cut rubber heel counter and and welded tape all around

The challenge here was to bring an unseen upper construction that would compliment the engineering of the 4D midsole.

This is why we decided to remove any conventional way of stitching and went for a middle split along the footbed instead of the usual "strobel".

This middle split, covered with a matte welded tape would extend toward the top part of the upper, creating this strong "one-line" visual, from laces to heel-tab.