March 4, 2021
From its athletic stance and slimmer headlights to its carbon fiber spoiler and bold color schemes, the IS drove the creative team to design RTFKT's first pair of footwear inspired by and partly constructed from vehicle materials.
"We wanted to make sure when the audience looks at the sneaker, they instantly know it is the IS," says Chris Le, creative director and co-founder, RTFKT.
"All the intricate design elements come together, and at a first glance it's a neck-breaker," says Steven Zaptio, chief executive officer and co-founder, RTFKT.
RTFKT and Complex documented the sneaker creation process in a three-part video series, "Rubber & Sole," now live on
. In the first episode, the team is challenged to create a bespoke shoe inspired by the 2021 Lexus IS. The second video shows the ideation of the sneaker,
"RTFKT put the same passion into developing this one-of-a-kind shoe that we did in developing the new 2021 Lexus IS," says Vinay Shahani, vice president, marketing, Lexus. “Steven and Chris delivered a head-turning sneaker that unmistakably mirrors the bold design and impressive performance of the IS.”
The RTFKT special-edition sneaker inspired by the 2021 Lexus IS sport sedan will not be available for sale.
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