Kicks: Rockport’s truWALKzero Collection


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Yesterday, The Rockport Company launched its truWALKzero collection with a crazy live installation at the corner of West 43rd Street and 6th Avenue in Midtown Manhattan, featuring world-renowned performance artist Johan Lorbeer. Rockport says “Johan’s specialty is creating gravity defying installations in public spaces: utilizing his own exclusive technology and harnesses that are hidden under clothing, Johan affixes himself and his team of actors to the walls of buildings, bridges, columns and walls, creating the optical illusion that they are literally floating in the air.” More details on the sneakers, from our friends at Rockport:

truWALKzero is the culmination of years of research and testing, and is one of the lightest shoes that Rockport has ever designed. Drawing on Rockport’s rich and authentic heritage in designing flexible and lightweight shoes, truWALKzero takes cues from performance technologies with a unique sole, which incorporates flex grooves that boast amazing flexibility.

As a technologically modern style, the shoes are also infused with Rockport’s proprietary truWALK Architecture, which provides a natural full range of foot motion, from shock absorption at heel strike to forefoot flexibility during push off, courtesy of adidas adiPRENE cushioning technology. Additionally, the upper consists of a synthetic mesh that wicks away moisture to keep feet dry, and a padded collar and tongue to help prevent blisters and lace bruising. Not only are truWALKzero shoes stylish and comfortable, they also have an EVA outsole that helps to reduce foot fatigue for all day comfort.

Rockport will initially launch two styles of the truWALKzero shoes for men and one style for women. The truWALKzero T-Toe Sport for men is a sleek, low profile, lace-up sneaker with leather/mesh uppers available in black/charcoal. The truWALKzero Wingtip is a dressier low profile, lace-up sneaker for men with wingtip detailing, available in black/charcoal and dark brown/orange. For women, the truWALKzero Welded Lace Up is a ghillie style, low profile sneaker in two colorways: black/dark gull grey/lavender, warm grey/white/salmon pink. All the styles include contrasting soles for an added color pop.

Additionally the launch will be supported with in-store window displays, and a social media campaign. truWALKzero footwear have suggested retail values between $120 and $140, and will be found at Rockport retail stores worldwide and select mid-tier retailers, as well as through Rockport.com beginning April 2012.