SAN FRANCISCO (BRAIN) – Chrome Industries is building its new Forged Rubber line of city sneakers from the ground up — literally.
The shoe’s foundation — the rubber sole — is harvested from rubber tree farms in Thailand and molded three to five days after leaving the tree. From there, the materials are quickly assembled, and the canvas upper is pressure-fused with the rubber at 300 degrees Fahrenheit. The process creates a shoe that looks like a sneaker but, Chrome claims, has the durability of an army boot. In fact, the shoes are made on 70-year-old rubber-forging machines discovered in Slovakia that were originally used to make military boots in Europe.
“Chrome isn’t reinventing the wheel with our new Forged Rubber process,” said Chrome product director Ben McCosh. “We are challenging the industry by using the best processes available to make durable city sneakers that last beyond one season.”
The shoes come in seven lace-up and three slip-on styles, and retail for $85.
More information on the Chrome website.
