American athletic footwear manufacturer Saucony collaborated with UK-based retailer OFFSPRING for a line of themed sneakers that were made to celebrate the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Dubbed the 'Saucony Shadow 5000s,' the series pays tribute to the athletic accomplishment ranking, with each variation featuring gold, silver or bronze accents. The uppers of the themed sneakers are made to complement this, with black, grey and beige colorways available.
The neutral tones are offset with a shiny material on the toes of the shoes that correspond with the metallic accents on the back of the heels. 'OFFSPRING Covent Garden 1996' is shown on the tongues of the shoes -- working to show the collaborative effort and meanwhile paying tribute to previous Olympic athletes.
Suede Medal-Themed Sneakers
Saucony and OFFSPRING Collaborated for a Commemorative Series
Trend Themes
1. Medal-themed Footwear - Opportunity for collaborations between athletic brands and retailers to produce commemorative sneakers in honor of athletic achievements.
2. Metallic Accents - Potential for incorporation of shiny materials to add a pop of metallic flair to neutral-toned footwear designs.
3. Collaborative Efforts - Opportunity for cross-industry partnerships to leverage historical events for unique and limited edition product releases.
Industry Implications
1. Athletic Footwear - Opportunity for athletic footwear brands to partner with retailers and honor athletes and their achievements with commemorative shoe designs.
2. Sports Retail - Chance for retailers specializing in sports merchandise to collaborate with athletic brands and offer exclusive commemorative product releases.
3. Fashion Retail - Opportunities for fashion retailers to collaborate with athletic brands in producing limited edition footwear collections to celebrate significant historical events.