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Feet You Wear
Brand: adidas
Run: 1996-99
Notable Models: adidas KB8, adidas Key Trainer, adidas Top Ten 2000, adidas EQT Mercury
Keeping in mind the contours of the foot, adidas popularized Feet You Wear technology. The offering shoes were shaped like the soles of one’s foot, as opposed to the standard flat outsole, for a focus on stability and flexibility. Designed by Frampton Ellis, the technology was licensed by adidas in 1994 and debuted two years later on the feet of Steffi Graff in her 1996 US Open win. Such styling also proved popular in the basketball arena, endorsed by the likes of Kobe Bryant and Antoine Walker. A dispute over royalties saw the tech disappear in 1999, but Feet You Wear models have since relaunched in retro form.
DMX
Brand: Reebok
Run: 1997-Current
Adaptations: DMX Lite
Notable Models: Reebok Answer 1, Reebok DMX Run 10
Using the same ideology as Zoom Air and React Juice but relying on pods over packets, Reebok’s DMX cushioning catered to responsiveness without neglecting comfort. Showcased on the outsole of premier models like the Reebok Answer 1 and Reebok DMX Run 10, the shoe’s were styled to allow airflow through the pods upon impact. While the marquee models encompassed both the midsole and outsole, the modified DMX Lite was designed to do the same job in a more minimal and less visual manner. The technology was eventually adapted to fitness and walking models in less expensive and less effective fashion. Recent retro releases from Reebok do not feature the original DMX technology in fully functional form.
