Balmain, Space Runners and Ant Kai Launch AI-Customized Sneaker Collaboration
Balmain and Space Runners announced their latest collaboration with Seattle-based artist Ant Kai powered by AI.
The latest collaborative effort aims at pushing the boundaries of fashion and technology by utilizing artificial intelligence to expand upon personalization, redefining customization standards. Through the usage of AI, users can customize Balmain’s Unicorn sneakers, giving audiences creative freedom to make the silhouette all their own. The collaboration embraces the ever-evolving digital economy with help from Kai, who is best known for his inventive custom sneakers.
The digital creations will be minted on Polygon, a widely renowned blockchain
known for its strong dedication to sustainability and eco-conscious practices. This gives
users the power to mint their own creations, embracing the platform’s environmentally friendly principles, fostering a new era of conscientious digital artistry.
In tandem with the AI-fueled customization initiative, Balmain will release a one-of-a-kind Unicorn sneaker, which will be available exclusively at the Parisian house’s Atlanta flagship, as well as on Balmain.com. The collaborative silhouette is imbued with Kai’s artistic flair, utilizing traditional Japanese methods while emphasizing the sneaker silhouette’s unique look. The partnership between Balmain and Ant Kai highlights the designer brand’s long history of embracing diverse talents and fresh perspectives, moving toward the future of fashion.
Balmain’s Unicorn sneaker was first released in June of 2022 in Paris via the Kith store. Rare and elusive like the shoe’s namesake, the Unicorn features a robust silhouette, featuring a futuristic and bulky composition unlike anything else on the market.
This sentiment is due to the shoe’s unique design qualities including unconventional lacing and fragmented sole unit that can be likened to unreal 3D models. The one-of-a-kind sneaker offering now comes in a variety of interesting colorways that aim to highlight the shoe’s unique silhouette.
About the Author
Amina Ayoud is an Assistant Digital Editor for Footwear News, where she writes stories about everything from celebrity style to breaking fashion and shoe releases. Ayoud cultivated a love of all things fashion early in life thanks to a deep love of fashion history and the luxury industry. In her free time, Ayoud is a self-proclaimed fashion nerd and thriftaholic.