In recent weeks, social networks have been immersed in images of particularly striking boots, which look like they came from a video game. They are the “Big Red Boots” of the MSCHF brand, identical to those used by “Astro Boy”, the protagonist of the manga series created by Osamu Tezuka.

MSCHF is a Brooklyn-based entity that defines itself as “an art collective that involves art, fashion, technology and capitalism“. On this occasion, the company has decided to go for the design of hyper-realistic boots that are reminiscent of a cartoon, and it has done so in collaboration with the American model Sarah Snyder.

Since images of this shoe began to circulate, users began to question on social networks whether it was a new affordable object in the metaverse or it was a real fashion trend.

Another of the big unknowns surrounding this design was whether the brand had been inspired by the “Astro Boy” anime, but MSCHF has not stated on the matter. However, due to the commotion caused by the similarity between the cartoon and the viral boots, The design has been popularly referred to as “Astro Boy Boots”.

The shoe is characterized by its bright red color, its rubber shell and its midsole and is a perfect mix between haute couture avant-garde and the edgy streetwear. Before being launched on the market, the boots had already appeared in massive events such as the Fashion Week from New York.

The brand explains on its website that “these shapes of shoes are generated in the audience’s memory, and they all serve the same purpose: to instantly convey the idea of ​​a boot.”

The shoes’ creator, Daniel Greenberg, has noted that “you never design shoes to be shaped like feet. The ‘Big Red Boots’ aren’t really shaped like feet, but they are extremely boot-shaped.”

Despite their apparent discomfort, the “Big Red Boots” have left their mark among celebrities. Celebrities like the singer Ciara, Lil Wayne, Iggy Azalea or Rich the Kid, They have joined the trend that is triumphing on social networks.

The shoe, priced at $350, went on sale on February 16 on the MSCHF website, although it sold out in a matter of minutes. However, if you are really interested in purchasing them, the website can notify you when they are back in stock. stocks.

MSCHF is also recognized for other shoes, such as Lil Nas However, it is the first time that the brand has designed a shoe with reference to the digital or animated world.

Fashion and the universe on-line

If one thing is clear, it is that fashion is increasingly influenced by concepts such as expanded imagination or mixed reality. Firms are looking for new escapist concepts that resemble the world of AI, digital fashion and the metaverse. This trend can be seen in designs such as the “Big Red Boots”, although examples of this have been seen before on the catwalks.

The LOEWE spring-summer 23 collection had a strong role in this trend. The brand decided to innovate and completely reinvent the classic notion of a high-heeled shoe, creating a design that resembled a doll’s snap-on shoe.

JW Anderson surprised with his approach to these “Inflated Heels”, which provoked reactions from the public, comparing them to the shoes so often seen in the Disney world.

At this same show, LOEWE impressed again with a sweatshirt and t-shirt in 3D space, highlighting the important role that the Internet plays in our lives. These “pixel” clothes were reminiscent of the famous console video game ‘Minecraft’.

However, it is not only the digital universe that is fully immersed in the world of fashion, but the opposite situation also occurs.

In 2007, brands like Armani and Calvin Klein experimented with digital clothing in the video game “Second Life.” Years later, Diesel was introduced to the “Sims” wardrobe, and in 2019, Louis Vuitton worked to change the appearance of “League of Legends” players.

Other brands, such as Dolce & Gabbana, Balenciaga and Gucci, also joined initiatives to promote their brands in the digital world, through video games or selling their own clothing in the metaverse.

But the influence of the Internet goes even further. Last year there was an unprecedented catwalk show with designs from big brands that could be attended without leaving the couch.

The first “Metaverse Fashion Week” (MFW), held in March 2022, reflected the rise of the virtual fashion market. The shows were held on the Decentraland platform, in which brands such as Dolce & Gabbana, Tommy Hilfiger and Etro participated. Inspired by Avenue Montaigne in Paris, the virtual world welcomed big brands on a figure-8 catwalk.

David Cash, founder of the NFT company “Cash Labs”, was in charge of preparing the poster for fashion experts in this first edition of the MFW. “We have tried to bring fashion in all its possible forms, from runway shows to organizing retail experiences, fashion presented in the form of art, films, photographs, and even fashion that goes beyond the confines of the reality,” since “in the metaverse, anything is possible,” Cash explained.

It is indisputable that the firms have located in the rise of the Internet an opportunity for your designs and new garments will appear that allude to the digital world. The metaverse has become a new source of inspiration and is here to stay.

Follow the topics that interest you