Sneaker Anatomy - Prada Scuba Ready

Prada is famous for testing our good taste and tries to forward-pushing aesthetic every season.
Since the day she came up with her first collection in 1988 - showcasing a full nylon focused black-white runway - Miuccia Prada never stopped innovating and trying hard to create sophistication out of the unusual. Speaking about sneakers and footwear, Prada has always been a bipolar soul, alternating sober and minimalistic shoes with more flashy and experimental silhouettes or detailing: we all remember the classic Americas Cup sneakers and then the hybrid sandals maxi-gems embroidery. These new Scuba-Ready sneakers are positioned in the middle. A sober technical inspired shoe with flashy color patterns to add a touch of craziness.

Let's discover which inspirations lay behind this new sneaker from Prada.

#1 Vibram Fukoshiki

One of the best-known models of technical shoes from Vibram. The sneaker has a unique wrapping technology that makes it perfectly adjustable on foot and a sole developed to be comfortable and durable at the same time. Vibram is the leader in developing new shoe technology, especially for everything that concerns soles. The tech-inspired silhouette and midsole of the new Prada Scuba in both high and low -top iteration were clearly mutated from Fukoshiki style. Even if the wrapping system has not been included in the Prada model, that features a normal zipper, the result of the silhouette is really similar.

#2 Rick Owens Scuba Socks

It's impossible not to mention the infamous Rick Owens Scuba socks among the inspirations. Even if RO kept the style as minimalistic as he could, avoid adding any details to the shoe that, as a result, it's a true masterpiece of sneaker minimalism, the concept is almost the same as the Prada Scuba-Ready: knee high neoprene boot with gum sole. Of course, the color patterns and the sophisticated detail transform the Prada Scuba-Ready into a completely different shoe, but for sure the name is not the only thing these two shoes have in common.

#3 adidas Tubular X

The resemblance is all about the sole. adidas tubular design is based on the tubular midsole that is the sneaker trademark. Prada for its Scuba Ready managed to model the sole in a way that is really close to the Adidas Tubular X sole shape. Apart from aesthetic reasons, the more likely motivation is the high level of comfort that the tubular sole provides.

#4 Nike Air YEEZY 2

This is what that strap on the Scuba ready instantly reminds of. Obviously, there are tons of sneakers featuring similar straps-Nike KD 5 on top - but the similar location and texture mixed with the more than huge fame of the Air YEEZY turn into an almost instantaneous comparison.

#5 Nike Aqua Sock Boots

Every shoe has a famous precursor. Nike Aqua Sock Boots are the Prada Scuba-Ready one. Concept, fabrics and strap collide. Prada just reworked the sole and made the silhouette a bit slimmer, in order to add a Prada touch to the shoe. It's not new for high fashion houses to take inspiration from the main sneaker companies when they decide to come out with a new model. We will see the biggest difference in terms of materials, stitching, hardware and manufacture.

#YEEZY 750