These White Mountaineering slip-ons look like the old-school Vans skateboarding shoes popularized in the '80s. They're made of cotton linen jacquard with a mountain-climber pattern that would look equally at home at a ski chalet or at a skate park.
The patterned slip-ons in the gallery above are a part of White Mountaineering's Spring/Summer 2009 collection.
Implications - White Mountaineering could have convinced themselves that mountain shoes and skateboarding shoes are two completely different things that should never go together, but instead they show with this unexpected cross-over that there is a whole lot of potential in hybrid products. Consumers are drawn to products that take the best of two worlds, and this is a great example of that strategy in action.
Mountain-Climbing Skateboard Shoes
White Mountaineering Slip-Ons Are Fit for the Alps, Or a Skate
Trend Themes
1. Hybrid Product Trend - The combination of mountain-climbing and skateboarding shoes exemplifies the growing trend of hybrid products that offer the best of two worlds.
2. Patterned Slip-ons Trend - The patterned slip-ons featured in this article showcase the rising trend of stylish and unique slip-on footwear.
3. Cross-over Collaboration Trend - The collaboration between mountaineering and skateboarding footwear brands highlights the trend of cross-over collaborations that bring together different industries to create innovative products.
Industry Implications
1. Footwear Industry - The innovation of mountain-climbing skateboard shoes presents opportunities for the footwear industry to create hybrid designs that cater to the needs of diverse consumers.
2. Outdoor Sports Industry - The cross-over between mountaineering and skateboarding shoes opens up opportunities for the outdoor sports industry to expand its product offerings and attract a wider range of enthusiasts.
3. Fashion Industry - The trend of patterned slip-on shoes provides the fashion industry with new avenues for incorporating unique designs into their footwear collections.