Covestro unviels the material in concept sports shoes

Polymer manufacturer Covesto has teamed up with Chinese designer Axis Liu for two customised concept shoes that will be on display at the K 2019 trade fair in Düsseldorf next month.

For the design of the running shoe, Axis Liu was inspired by a traditional figure from Chinese arts: the “Multilayer Carved Ball” which has a structure made of several layers. This effect, used in the midsole, was produced by a 3D printer.

The upper features an Insqin coating, which makes the material waterproof and breathable, and a water-based adhesive, Dispercoll U, helps conserve energy and resources, according to Covestro.

For the basketball shoe, the midsole was made using in-mold foaming and contains expanding TPU (ETPU), which provides shock absorption.

Both shoes use the new Maezio carbon fiber-reinforced TPU (CFRTP), which is light but extremely stiff and is also recyclable.

“New materials are one of the most powerful driving forces for creative shoe design and for exploring new possibilities,” said Axis Liu. “Therefore, I appreciate the knowhow of the experts at Covestro and I will continue to benefit from this in the future.”

Courtesy: Sports Textiles

Recent Posts

Brugnoli, Lycra and Pissei launch bio-based cycling fabric

Brugnoli has partnered with The Lycra Company and Pissei to introduce PaceSetter showcasing the use of bio-based materials in high-performance…

10 hours ago

SITRA, TTRI sign MoU to advance textile research

SITRA and TTRI have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen research and technical cooperation in textile innovation and technology…

10 hours ago

Primark joins Denim Deal to expand push for recycled cotton jeans

Primark has joined Denim Deal, strengthening the initiative’s efforts to scale the use of post-consumer recycled (PCR) cotton in denim…

10 hours ago

Japanese researchers simplify dye method for polyester recycling

Researchers at the University of Fukui have developed a method that could simplify the recycling of coloured polyester textiles by…

5 days ago

Researcher proposes rice husk-based solution for wastewater treatment

Sabrina Mostafa has highlighted rice husk as a low-cost alternative to conventional decolouring agents for textile wastewater treatment in Bangladesh.

5 days ago

Algae-based black pigment named among TIME’s best inventions

Living Ink Technologies has been named among TIME magazine’s Best Inventions of 2026 in the Sustainability category for its Algae…

6 days ago