Space and sneakers

“Some of Nike’s coolest collaborations seem to defy marketability. Marc Newson, an Australian industrial designer, befriended Mr. Parker around 2001 and soon offered up “an interesting idea” for “the guys in space” — collapsible footwear featuring a sock-like inner shoe; a detachable rubber sole; and a perforated outer shoe which looks a bit like Swiss cheese. Messrs. Parker and Newson named the shoe “Zvezdochka,” after the fifth Soviet dog to be sent into space.

The resulting “modular” shoe had all the hallmarks of a vanity project. The limited edition sneakers appeared in 2004 and sold for $120 in New York’s Moss. They were an instant, if brief, hit. “This is a cult item in the art world,” says Mr. Parker.

When Mr. Parker walked into the Laguna art show, the psychedelic painter Robert Williams approached him to proudly show off his Zvezdochkas. Mr. Parker thinks the sneaker concept — still being adapted for a broader market — will eventually have commercial wings. “There’s no question” that it will reach the mainstream, he says.”
— http://www.wsj.com/articles/SB119317864699068959

The ZVEZDOCHKA is named after a Russian space dog launched into orbit aboard Sputnik 10 on March 25 1961 along with famous Russian mannequin Ivan Ivanovich.

ZVEZDOCHKA

ZVEZDOCHKA

Thinking about a space ship, you can see the influence of a cage structure.

Aboard the ISS

Aboard the ISS

Marc Newson sketch

Marc Newson sketch

Alveoli style with holes of different shapes and sizes also influenced this design.

The shoe:

Some may comapre this to a croc, besides the color, these two shoes are worlds apart.

“Truly innovative design often challenges current development methods, which these certainly did. Developed entirely via 3D modelling, the Zvezdochka is a mixture of four separate pieces. ”
— Mr Bailey /conceptkicks.com

This shoe is one example of aerospace influence leading to footwear innovation.