MI ADIDAS*
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Margo Neely (CEO of Neely & Daughters) is the creator of the international phenomenon Neely Air TR-808 “Disturb the Peace” drum machine shoe concept: a digital tap shoe (of sorts) that allows the user, amateur or professional, to create digital beats and rhythms with movement. Inspired by the Roland TR-808 Rhythm Composer designed by lkutaro Kakehashi and the (now-defunct) mi adidas on-demand custom shoe creation tool, The Neely Air TR-808: Disturb the Peace custom concept shoe allows the wearer to digitally make beats using embedded MIDI/OSC triggers. The prototype shoe concept is USB, WiFi, and bluetooth enabled, with trigger-sensors connecting remotely to existing music/beat creation apps (eg, Abelton, Reason, Loopy et al.) available on iPhone, Android, and desktop.
There is enormous demand and desire in the market for this product. Without a single dollar spent on PR, The Neely Air TR-808 sneaker concept organically captured over 54 million fans worldwide and has achieved 6.21 Billion in media reach through the organic (viral) publication of nearly 350 full page stories about the work in major global media outlets (Gizmodo, DJ Mag, MSN, BBC, CNN, et al.) Work began in 2020 with the University of Massachusetts capstone design project (Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering) to produce the first ever working prototype of the shoe, but completion was cut short by the pandemic lockdown.
global audience metrics for the Neely Air Mi Adidas TR-808*
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In what could be the most fucking cool shit I’ve ever seen, a new sneaker design which incorporates the iconic black, red, orange and yellow 808 design has been unveiled. Not only that, but apparently the sneakers also function as a drum machine. Swish.
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The machine even survives purely as a design object: The row of red, orange, yellow and white buttons across its front panel, representing a bar of music as 16 programmable "steps," has inspired a conceptual Adidas sneaker that would sell by the boatload if it were real.
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Adidas has style. Wes Anderson has even more style... Meanwhile, we’re still waiting for them to dust off the TR-808 inspired kicks.
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Taking its design cues from the legendary TR-808 drum machine, the New York based digital engineers Neely and Daughters dreamed up this prototype. On top of its impeccable styling, the sneaker features tempo control, a start/stop button, speakers, USB port, wi-fi, and bluetooth built-in... Talk about an incredible innovation!
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The QUARTZ Obsession: a daily digression into the most fascinating corners of the global economy. September 22, 2017: Viral Wonders | A Fitting Tribute: The The TR-808 drum machine and the TR-808 prototype sneaker by Neely & Daughters.
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Margo and her firm have been inundated with requests and offers from all sorts of top brands in the electronic music industry. And now Margo and her team are hard at work on a “revolutionary product” that, she claims, will surpass the TR-808 trainers in every conceivable way. There’s talk of lifestyle, wearables and game-changing, which all sounds very exciting. If any of Margo’s enthusiasm and self-belief could ever materialise as a product then I think it’s going to be awesome.
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The Neely Air TR-808 customs: The #1 Most Popular story of 2017. By far this scoop on the concept Adidas Roland TR-808 shoes grabbed our attention and yours more than any other story. The best thing: these shoes went viral afterwards and the story isn’t over yet…
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