Adidas collaborates with ISS for product research development in space
The brand will use microgravity to test its products in the space
Adidas will be the first brand to test footwear products outside the earth
Adidas reportedly announced that it will ink a multi-year collaboration with the International Space Station (ISS) US National Laboratory to expand its boundaries of innovation and test its product in the space.
Adidas’ vice president of global brand strategy, James Carnes stated that reason for the partnership was the emphasis on innovation shared between Adidas and the ISS US National Lab as well as the company and the organization’s combined dedication towards the creation of Open Source.
Carnes further commented that the initial conversations had resulted in the idea of maximizing the International Space Station’s unique lab features such as microgravity, to be used for product research with the basic background of Adidas in human performance for athletes.
Apparently, the first phase in the collaboration will mainly focus on the innovation of products by having them tested in microgravity. As per NASA, microgravity happens to be a condition wherein objects or people appear to be weightless.
Seemingly, NASA had provided ISS with soccer balls in a cargo mission at the beginning of the year to run various experiments to broaden its understanding of the characteristics of flight outside earth. The company will be the very first brand that will test improvements in footwear in space.
Adidas has been planning to test the Boost technology, which is essentially a foam that the company uses to be able to cushion a few of their most popular as well as comfortable shoes, without any gravity present. This could have a positive impact on the existing models while also making a new way for innovation of new products.
The company is making efforts to being environment-friendly and has partnered with Parley for a long time as the latter focuses on the recycling of plastics in the ocean and then using those to manufacture sneakers and apparel.
Source Credit- https://edition.cnn.com/2019/11/05/business/adidas-iss-scn-trnd/index.html