That’s where Philippe Starck comes into play. This talented designer collaborated with startup Bastion on a pretty ingenious idea: to create a pump that tells you when its time is up.
“I was interested in making shoes because shoes have too short a life,” Starck said. Another issue that inspired the two parties is that many sneakers end up in landfills, and take ages to decompose.
How Exactly Do These Hi-Tech Sneakers Work?
Inside the insoles of these sneakers lies an electronic module. According to Baliston founder Karim Oumnia, the sensors in each module share data through Bluetooth technology, exchanging information in real-time. It’s almost as if the sneakers are talking to each other and the wearer.
Oumnia also mentioned how this kind of tech is already being used by podiatrists in Europe to help design custom insoles for patients. So why not bring that same tech to the average pump?
Owners of these sneakers also get an accompanying app on their phones to check out all of the important insights. The sensors will actually notify you what kind of exercises you should do depending on your gait or posture. And of course, it can also track how many steps you do each day, among other important numbers.
Towards the end of the shoe’s lifecycle, the app will notify you that you need to replace it. At that point, you can send the pair back to the company to recycle them.
So it’s a Pair for Life?
One strange fact about these sneakers is that you essentially get a pair for life. Instead of paying for a new pair every time, you just pay an annual fee for one pair, and replace the pair with a new one whenever needed.
It might not be for everyone, but we imagine that this deal is going to appeal to a lot of customers who are interested in being more eco-friendly, and conscious about their fitness.