Okay, there are many weird things that happen in the sneaker industry. Just when we think we’ve seen it all, something new comes out and gets us flabbergasted. Now, before 2024 ends, we are bound to get at least one more surprise. And well, it seems that this surprise is actually a shoe that everyone has seen on their phones. You see, an artist took that emoji and turned it into an actual shoe! So, let’s see what these babies look like and how you can get them.
A Shoe Inspired by an Emoji… Inspired by an Actual Shoe?
Okay, our story starts with none other than the man himself, Steve Jobs. The former Apple CEO had a favorite shoe, and that was the New Balance 574. He was often seen wearing the kicks. So, as a little tribute to the late CEO, Apple decided to take that silhouette as an inspiration for their running shoe emoji. The silhouette is obviously similar to the NB574, but with a slight change. And that change was that instead of the N on the side, the emoji had two stripes. But what if we told you that the emoji became a real shoe now?
Designer Josewong actually took the emoji and turned it into a real-life shoe. The “Shoe 1” as he named it, is an example of a shoe-ception. Now, the kicks were available for sale on Josewong’s website alone with the cap emoji cap and the socks emoji socks… I swear, I’m not even tripping with y’all. The kicks retailed for $220, and it seems like they have already sold out! But the question here is, will New Balance take any legal action?
Why Could New Balance Take Legal Action?
We’re not saying that New Balance is going to, but if they do pull a Nike on Josewong, we won’t be surprised. You see, the Shoe 1 is very very aesthetically similar to the New Balance 574 down to the basic grey colorway. The only smart thing here is that the artist did not use the brand’s logo. However, Nike needed a lot less than that to actually sue people like the Shoe Surgeon and Bape.
Now, if you like the kicks, you might wanna look into the real deal and invest in a pair of the New Balance 574! After all, the brand is doing some solid work in the industry. And if you’re looking for even more exciting sneaker releases, our blog has all this covered and more. So you might wanna check it out and see what catches your attention! And who knows? You might pick up a new hobby while you’re at it wink wink. Godspeed!
