‘The Best City Sneaker In The World’ is a big claim but I wouldn’t put it past Chrome Industries to make it. With a reputation already built on making some of the most robust products available to the modern rider (or skater, for that matter), Chrome has just released a line of footwear that promise to challenge all competitors.
Chrome’s Knurled Welded series of luggage has already impressed me with their design and construction, which has already set the bar very high. Their new line of sneakers, both laced and slip-on styles, are made with the same spirit and integrity as the rest of their range and anyone who has owned a product from their range will testify to their durability — myself included.
From the press release: Chrome Industries, the San Francisco-based company originally known for its messenger bag with its iconic seatbelt buckle and renowned for crafting “bombproof gear for living and riding the city,” today unveils ‘The Best City Sneaker In The World’ with its Forged Rubber line of footwear.
Chrome turns modern manufacturing upside down by resurrecting 70-year-old Forged Rubber machines originally used to make army boots in Europe. Discovered in eastern Slovakia, an area of the world known for its demanding city landscapes, these Forged Rubber machines were refurbished and adapted to make Chrome shoes that embody the brand’s spirit of making thoughtful, highly durable products.
Each Forged Rubber sneaker is individually made by hand using heated pressure and the outsole is fused directly onto the upper to ensure no separation. The result is that no undesirable cement is used and Chrome shoe lasts under the most demanding conditions. A reflective heel and an odour resistant technology are also integrated for daily city survival.
“Chrome isn’t re-inventing the wheel with our new Forged Rubber process,” states Ben McCosh, Chrome’s Product Director. “We are challenging the industry by using the best processes available to make durable city sneakers that last beyond one season. It’s a back-to-basics concept that most manufacturers simply overlook today due to the time, effort, and resources required to make durable sneakers. This is the Chrome way.”
Chrome’s Forged Rubber shoes are crafted from the bottom up. Its foundation — the rubber sole — is harvested from local rubber tree farms in Thailand and molded just 3-5 days after leaving the tree. From there, the materials are quickly assembled, and the canvas upper is pressure fused with the rubber at 300 degrees Fahrenheit to create shoes that look like sneakers, but are constructed with the durability of army boots.
With this introduction, Chrome continues to demonstrate its leadership in the rapidly growing urban mobility category that caters to city commuters and urban adventurers.
Chrome’s Forged Rubber Mobile Factory Tour brings making back to the people.
Chrome celebrates the craftsmanship behind their urban sneaker debut with its Forged Rubber Mobile Factory Tour, where one of the refurbished 70-year-old Slovakian Forged Rubber machines will travel to Chrome’s HUB stores in five cities, allowing more people to experience the hand-made manufacturing process in-person.
Chrome Hubs
•San Francisco: 20th June – 6/21 @ 962 Valencia St, San Francisco, CA 94110
•New York City: 1st July – 7th July @ 238 Mulberry St, New York, NY 10012
•Chicago: 11th July – 12th July @ 1529 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60622
•Seattle: 18th July – 19th July @ 1117 1st Ave, Seattle, WA 98121
•Portland: 25th July – 26th July @ 425 SW 10th Ave, Portland, OR 97205
The Chrome Forged Rubber range comes in both laced and slip-on styles, with a color palette of blacks, greys, tans, reds, khakis and camo prints, with reflective heels and odour-resistant technology. With their bullet proof construction, maybe I’ve finally found a replacement for my beat-up and smelly old Vans as my preferred daily sneaker.
