Geography is often used as a source of inspiration for footwear design. While brands like Nike and Adidas regularly create sneakers for specific cities, this Amsterdam-themed sneaker comes from an unlikely company—KLM Royal Dutch Airlines.
Yes, that's right. The Dutch airline company is getting into the footwear industry with its new shoe, The Amsterdam Sneaker. According to PSFK, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines designed the sneaker as a way to offer tourists a package deal while traveling. Last month, the company auctioned off 150 pairs of sneakers bundled with a flight to Amsterdam and the "I Amsterdam" card, which grants access to a handful of museums and attractions in the city.
With no experience in footwear, KLM teamed up with Pool Advertising Agency to make The Amsterdam Sneaker a reality. "We had the shoe made after a few criteria—it had to be durable since it really should be used for walking, it should support the foot, the outer had to be durable as well, as the weather in Amsterdam is not always sunny, and we figured it had to be able to bear a spill of beer too," said Pool copywriter Ulf Rönnbäck. "Since Amsterdam is covered in cobblestones, we chose a sole that has a superior grip and then we wanted it to show the Dutch heritage, hence the orange color."
Sneakers and travel often go hand-in hand, so it would the concept would definitely be well received with for other destinations, too. Find out more about the KLM Royal Dutch Airlines' Amsterdam Sneaker in the video below.
