Maxim Outsole / Shoe

A couple years ago, we had the idea to launch a couple open collection outsoles with the intent to put them on Vibram branded uppers to promote the soles. Previously, and even currently sometimes, we resole other brands shoes with new outsoles and technologies.

Similar to a lot of other projects, this one resonates with me so much. The story goes that the brief launched to go after the lifestyle, sneaker markets. At this point in my career I’ve been pushing this market segment for a while so needless to say I was stoked to design a product for it.

At the time we had an intern - Luke. Luke was awesome, we still keep in touch today and he’s doing super well for himself (actually working for my internship employer back when I was in college - life’s funny that way). But Luke worked on the bottom design; and it was great because it was one of the first times I was able to give product design directive. Collectively, we achieved an agressive, technical and sporty bottom. I got to design the midsole and how it connected to the sole.

When we launched the product in 2018, I wore the shoe to Agenda trade show in Vegas. I met with Jeff Staple on something; the shoes caught his eye so much he posted them on his IG (see image below). To this day Jeff has 1 of 2 pairs ever made of this silhouette. I appreciate you, man.