Sneakers keep getting weirder, as evidenced by Adidas Yeezy, Converse, and now Balmain. The luxury label has introduced its Unicorn sneaker, a shoe built with what it calls “sculptural flair and unique construction.” A silhouette as extraordinary as its namesake, the Unicorn layers angled panels to create a sleek yet stacked upper, while translucent ropes tie the individual pieces together.
Since becoming creative director of Balmain in 2011, Olivier Rousteing has sought to disrupt typical sneaker design and has certainly achieved his goal with the Unicorn. Keeping Rousteing’s “renewed French style” in mind, the experimental sneaker takes inspiration from Balmain’s archives as well as Don Aronow’s aerodynamic speed boats (also known as cigarette speed boats). The end result is something between Yeezy and Blade Runner.
