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s &OOTWEAR )NSIGHT ^ 3EPTEMBER/CTOBER FOOTWEARINSIGHTCOM FOOTWEAR MATERIALS Looking Beyond to S/S 19 Textiles that tie in nicely with the knit revolution are in the pipeline for seasons ahead. "Stitched" is fast becoming the textile term du jour as material develop- ers focus on fabrications that offer the lightweight comfort and performance that knits promise along with a street-snappy fashion look. Here are a couple top trends to keep an eye on: 4. Color me Creative It's game on when it comes to color play. Reflectivity gets more sophisticated and the popularity of color effects is sparking thread innovations. Sunnylite Interna- tional offers a new reflective thread that allows the ability to do more creative looks, like embroidered textiles. "Before you couldn't stitch (reflective) because the thread would snap," explains compa- ny representative Bill Pickett. "The same material is now a thread; now you can stitch and knit rather than just weave," Pickett adds. The latest material developments also level up color-shifting capabilities. Jason Eric Brown uses the term "dynamic color" to explain this next generation of color technology. "It's thinking of color in 3D, it's more nuanced," said Brown, a VP De- sign/Development, representing brands Pony Leather and Tai Ruey Fong. "It's like an automobile color, not flat like paint. It's living color." Enough is never enough when it comes to colorful pattern possibilities. An over- the-top decorated baseball shoe from Adi- das highlights the S/S19 trend direction of blending eye-catching aesthetics with subtle technical performance. The Adidas Boost Icon 3 NYC cleat comes complete with gold charm on the shoelace; inspi- ration for the graphics derive from the sweater aesthetic of Biggie Smalls. Wow! 5. Feel Good Function Across the board, stretch is a key talking point. Engineered breathability, lightweight durability and softness are all part of the stretch conversation. These qualities are found in the latest product selection of stretch materials from Faytex. New from Sheehan Sales is ectMD, a "Multi-Directional" 4-way stretch material that combines heat and moisture control along with abrasion resistance making it ideal for variety of footwear applica- tions. Also new: Ariaprene Exoskeleton, a 3-layer composite material that performs like a second skin for protection with stretch. Soccer and outdoor lifestyle are two categories currently targeted. O KRENZIEN, KRENZIEN & ASSOCIATES INC. THE SPORTING GOODS PROFESSIONALS Eight decades of EXCELLENT SERVICE! Please call us regarding representation in the Midwest, Pennsylvania, Texas & Mountain States. 425 Huehl Road, Bldg. 1 Northbrook, IL 60062 P: (847) 498-0400 F: (847) 498-0449 Skype: ron.isaacskka ronisaacs@krenzien.com 4 5