A new product aimed at replacing the trusty running shoe in the gym is now available globally.
Skinners, which look like a pair socks, can be used to walk around both smooth and rough surfaces and have been created for settings like the gym. The product is made from a patent-pending dual coating of anti-abrasive polymer materials on the bottom, and the upper part is joined to this section using antibacterial fibre. This approach contrasts with other athletic footwear that uses adhesives or seams to keep the shoe together. The bottom on Skinners is also waterproof and they can be cleaned by putting them into the washing machine on a gentle cycle.
Due to their natural, flat fit, they could be used by gym-goers especially when lifting weights and could be hugely beneficial. As outlined by Dr. Stephen Pribut, a past president of the Podiatric Sports Medicine, running shoes, due to extra cushioning can affect a person’s balance which can impact negatively on their ability to perform standing or lateral exercises.
It is even claimed that the product can be used for outdoor running for a short distances as it emulates the feeling of racing barefoot. The makers argue that this type of experience leads to more effective training as previous long-term use of sporting footwear may have led to weakened foot muscles and tendons.
Skinners were created by Petr Prochazka, who, in an attempt to help a friend with an injured foot who couldn’t wear shoes, used a travel sewing kit to create the first prototype. Following this, he decided to give up his career in law and rented part of a factory and spent the following 10 months further prototyping the product.
Prochazka, who is also currently CEO of Skinners Technologies, said of the product in a press release: “Today, active people use many kinds of specialized footwear. Wearing this kind of footwear longer than necessary is not always comfortable, convenient, healthy or safe.”
The company, currently based in Brno in the Czech Republic, last year crowdfunded on Kickstarter to assist with production and patenting costs, with a modest goal of $10,000. However, the campaign raised $654,557 from 9,624 investors. The final product launched at the start of this year and costs $58 for a pair, with a variety of colors available.
Most recently, in April of this year, the company also won The Red Dot Design Award, a prize which is awarded by the Design Zentrum in Germany, one of the most respected design institutions worldwide.
In a further press release to support the award win, Prochazka outlined that he was open to a potential acquisition, saying: “We would consider every kind of opportunity that could help the project to grow even more. A connection with a global partner in the footwear industry is one of them.”