Japan reveals the world’s first “self-healing” sneakers

You just have to explore a few neighborhoods in Tokyo, one of the easiest cities in the world to walk, and you can easily reach over 20,000 steps every day. So it’s no surprise to hear that Japan’s capital is one of the world’s leading sports shoe markets.

From the recent Onitsuka Tiger boom to avant-garde footwear from designers such as Mikio Sakabe and Yohji Yamamoto, the country’s production of sneakers is both practical and experimental.

Lom Baby, a creative collective led by Transeeds Inc., has incorporated this spirit of innovation to new heights and is introducing an interesting product called “Heal Sneaker.” As the world’s first sneaker to adopt regenerative medicine technology, it is designed to promote comfort and sustainability.

The shoes will be exhibited at the highly anticipated Expo 2025 in Osaka. This is what we have learned about the invention so far.

Digital bird’s eye view of Yumeshima at Osaka Expo

Therapy sneakers: the world’s first recycled sneakers

according to Transeeds Inc.Heal sneakers are “recovery sneakers” that use regenerative medicine technology to repair the wearer’s walking. “The material of sneakers will regenerate like cells, and every time I wear sneakers, I will keep the benefits of new shoes.”

Therefore, it can be assumed that these sneakers can last longer than typical leather or plastic shoes, making them an environmentally friendly option. This may reduce the negative effects of wearing worn shoes as the sneakers are said to retain their shape.

The collective Transeeds Inc., behind the invention, is composed of creatives and engineers who “designate to create new value using digital technology and share that with people around the world.”

As a subgroup of the organization, Lom Baby made headlines last year “Dragon meat”. “Resume Art” works exhibited at the Tokyo National Art Center. Dragon meat will also be enjoyed at the 2025 Osaka Expo.

Although specific details about shoe technology and appearance have not been announced yet, with the industry’s environmental footprint growing, inventions (if legal) have great potential in the intersection of rapidly evolving fashion, technology and sustainability.

Environmental cost of sports shoes

When the Sneakerhead culture emerged in the 1980s, especially after the release of Air Jordan 1, it seemed like a harmless, exciting subculture that brought basketball and hip-hop fans together. Its pioneers can never imagine the scale of footwear production today.

Combining the super-consumption and accelerated trend cycles, the sports shoe industry has made a significant contribution to environmental damage through landfill gas.

More than 23 billion pairs of shoes are produced worldwide each year. About a quarter of these are sneakers, usually made from materials such as nylon, synthetic rubber and plastic. Most discarded shoes end up in landfills, and one pair takes an average of 30 to 40 years to break down.

As discussions about the environmental footprints of our fashion and lifestyle choices enter mainstream discourse, unfortunately it is a byproduct such as corporate greening. Therefore, making ethical choices as consumers has become increasingly difficult, but crucial.

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