A QUICK SKETCH STUDY LOOKING AT THE UPPER 'FRAMEWORK' FOR SUPPORT AND FLEXIBILITY.

THE CONCEPT I DEVELOPED INVOLVED A "DIP" IN THE BASE OF THE EYESTAY, IMPROVING FLEXIBILITY AND PROVIDING A UNIQUE AESTHETIC FOR THE CATEGORY.

ON A QUEST TO BE THE FIRST TO MAKE A GORETEX WATERPROOF SHOE WITH VISIBILITY INTO THE ONCE HIDDEN TECHNOLOGY, THIS SKETCH IS A  PROPOSAL OF MY VISION.  CO-MINGLING WITH THE FUNCTIONAL DNA OF THE UPPER, A 'WINDOW' INTO THE INTERNAL BOOTIE AND THE GORETEX HALLMARK IS REVEALED.

THE INITIAL PULLOVER WAS DEVELOPED FOR THIS CONCEPT UTILIZING A THICK LEATHER OUTTER LAYER, AND A STRETCH PU BASE.  WITH THIS PROOF OF CONCEPT IMPROVEMENTS WERE MADE CHANGING THE BASE MATERIAL TO A HUNG TEXTILE AND USING A THINNER BODY LEATHER.

IN ITS STATIONARY FORM, THE UPPER RELAXES AND FALLS.  THE LEATHER UPPER IS ACTING MORE LIKE A TEXTILE.

CONCEPTUAL WORK TOWARD ADDING ARTICULATION AND STRETCH PROPERTIES TO A LEATHER UPPER.  BY ENGINEERING AND STRATEGICALLY CUTTING THE LEATHER, AND ADDING A STRETCH TEXTILE 'SOCK' BASE, ULTIMATE FLEXIBILITY AND BREATHABILITY COMPLIMENT A 'GLOVE-LIKE' FIT. 

THE METROPIA TRACEUR WAS AN URBAN TRAIL CONCEPT THAT WAS INSPIRED BY THE STRETCH LEATHER CONCEPT AND AESTHETIC.  THIS MODEL BOASTED RUBBER FOXING THAT WRAPPED AROUND THE ENTIRE SHOE, ACTING AS AN EYESTAY AND HEEL SUPPORT WRAP.  THIS CONCEPT ULTIMATELY PRECEDED THE LATER CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT.