Did the Triple S Break the Sneaker Industry?

Unveiled on the runway in Paris back in January 2017, the marked a turning point for , as creative director and Georgian designer Demna Gvasalia brought the aesthetic he had perfected with Vetements to the realm of high-fashion luxury footwear. By the time the kicks finally dropped that September, they had morphed into the must-have trainer of the moment thanks to their unmistakable look, and decidedly retro vibes. Ultimately, the shoe is almost single-handedly responsible for kicking off the dad shoe craze that continues to this day.

The shoe’s impact on sneaker culture, however, goes far beyond that panel-heavy upper and stacked sole unit. By coopting the chunky, seemingly unstylish footwear choices of middle-aged dads everywhere, repackaging the look into something tailor-made for the Vetements set, and hitting it with a hefty price tag, Demna completely disrupted the sneaker industry as we knew it.