September 2016 www.womanthismonth.com 20 PUMA has released the latest edition to its DISC footwear franchise, the futuristic looking metallic silver BMW X-CAT DISC. Designworks, a BMW Group subsidiary, teamed with PUMA to develop the special fabric applied over the metal chassis. Through this collaboration, Designworks led the creative process for the shoe, which has been inspired by the striking concept car. This shoe showcases PUMA’s reinvented DISC technology, which provides ultimate comfort and a snug fit, its makers say. The starting points for this project were the flexible, ergonomic and lightweight GINA material as well as PUMA’s reinvented, lighter and fasterworking DISC technology. Instead of using laces, this system works with a rotating disc that pulls internal wires to close and open the shoe. Using only one thin layer of super-light GINA material, the shoe wraps around the foot like a second skin. “With the X-CAT project, we wanted to unleash the innovative power of BMW and PUMA. We have transformed the essence of the shape-shifting GINA car into a streamlined and elegant shoe,” says Torsten Hochstetter, global creative director at PUMA. The X-CAT DISC combines lightweight design, adaptability and performance to create something special. In the spirit of GINA, the designers treated the foot as a kind of chassis and re-engineered the original automotive material to ensure it was breathable and sufficiently durable. Automotive design is immediately evident in the proportions that make the material shine – and in the simplicity that prevents it from competing with too many other design features. Fine, laser-cut perforations flow across the front of the X-CAT, underlining the impression of motion while adding ventilation. Another design cue taken from the original GINA concept is the functional aesthetic of revealing the underlying structure when tightening the shoe. The designers also re-thought the concept for the sole and the PUMA DISC, applying BMW engineering approaches to add greater precision. They viewed the sole as the engine of the foot, the driver of movement. This produced a unique design, which was inspired by interconnecting gears and integrates both engineered flexibility and interlinked stability. The BMW X-CAT DISC is now available in selected PUMA stores across the world. Call 17 750-750. showcase STEP TO IT! EURO MOTORS This innovative new trainer has been developed for style, performance and is sure to get your motor running.
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