VANS AND PROPER - NAUTICAL... BUT NICE!

How many brands have actually designed a brand new shoe in the last five years that’s been accepted into the wider market?
If by the wider market you mean what footwear is being worn as a lifestyle piece for its aesthetics as opposed to its function, very few. Of course there are exceptions, but for the most part brands rarely choose to develop lifestyle inspired versions of their new performance shoes which would help them gain a bit of wider appeal. Occasionally things pop up, but I would say it is in the small minority. Which is quite amazing because it seems like some pretty cool things could be done with the One (the computer shoe) for example.
Things have evolved to the point where so much of the differentiation between brands is a marketing battle and some brands just don’t have the dollars to get some of their technological advances out there to the public. Would you agree?