One-of-a-kind Lexus IS F Sport sneakers revealed
What happens when sneakerheads get a hold of a luxury sport sedan? Lexus teamed up with Streetwear Collective RTFKT to find out.To celebrate the launch of the 2021 Lexus IS, the Japanese sports-luxury carmaker challenged American Streetwear Collective RTFKT to create a one-of-a-kind pair of sneakers featuring design elements inspired by the IS 350 F Sport Dynamic Handling Package.
From its athletic stance and slim headlights to its carbon fibre spoiler and bold colour schemes, the IS was the core creative inspiration for the RTFKT team to make their first pair of shoes inspired by and created from actual vehicle materials.
“We wanted to make sure when the audience looks at the sneaker, they instantly know it is the IS,” said Chris Le, creative director and co-founder of RTFKT. “All the intricate design elements come together, and at a first glance it’s a neck breaker,” added Steven Zaptio, CEO and co-founder of RTFKT.
To create the IS F Sport Sneakers, the RTFKT team first selected a base with a sole closely resembling tyres. Features on the front of the shoes are shaped like the vehicle’s signature spindle grille, with 3D printed material imitating the carbon fibre rear spoiler. The sides of the sneaker are covered in Lexus Black NuLuxe Synthetic Leather with light grey stitching from the car’s seats, with a middle silver stripe inspired by the details of the headlights.
They even added an F Sport branded tag on the side and a Lexus badge covering the top Velcro strap. To top it all off, a vibrant blue colour that most closely resembles the IS F Sport’s new signature Grecian Water was chosen for the sneaker.
The creative design and build process of the sneakers was documented in a three-part video series called Rubber & Sole. In the first episode, the team is challenged to create the bespoke shoe inspired by the 2021 Lexus IS. The second video follows the ideation of the sneaker, from sketching designs to prototyping and materials sourcing. The third and final episode showcases the final details of the sneaker and explains how it is derived from the IS.
Founded by Steven Zaptio and Chris Le, RTFKT is a global collective of designers merging next-gen gaming and sneaker culture and works with more than 150 3D artists to create its designs. The studio focuses on one-of-a-kind creations, from colour-changing sneakers made from futuristic materials to digital-only virtual collectibles.
The special edition sneaker inspired by the 2021 Lexus IS sport sedan unfortunately will not be available to buy. This isn’t the first time Lexus has teamed up with a designer to create a bespoke pair of shoes. In 2019, they called on American style entrepreneur John Elliott to turn Nike Air Force 1 sneakers into tyres for UX SUV.
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