Remember jelly shoes? Those vivid, see-through footwear accessories were the height of fashion in the ’80s and ’90s. Everyone, young and old, succumbed to their irresistible appeal. In fact, many of us probably owned a pair or two, myself included. Not only were they high on the style quotient, but they also boasted practical features like being super easy to clean. Unsurprisingly, given fashion’s cyclical nature, these see-through wonders are making a comeback. But can you imagine if we applied this pleasing aesthetic to other types of footwear? Well, Vivian Huang from @cerealartist offers a glimpse of what a pair of Jordan jelly shoes could look like.
Introducing the Jelly Jordans
This inventive mind from Toronto has fashioned a pair of jelly sneakers based on the classic silhouette of the Air Jordan 1 High and aptly dubbed them Jelly Jordans. These sneakers are crafted from transparent orange vinyl, giving them that jelly shoe look. Huang has even accentuated the look of the design with matching orange stitching, reminiscent of the iconic jelly shoe. Her thoughtful design includes transparent Profile Swooshes on the sides, the definitive “Nike Air” branding on the tongue, and the striking wings insignia on the ankle flap. A pair of black laces then ties the look together, corresponding marvellously to the black branding.
However, Vivian hasn’t limited her creative mastery to the Jordan silhouette. She has also conjured a transparent green Dunk Low sneaker aptly named the ‘Slime Dunk’ also crafted from vinyl. As with the Jelly Jordan (it’s so fun to say), it has the same signature stitching and branding as the regular shoes, down to the iconic Nike Swoosh.
Not for Sale
Unfortunately for all of us, these sneakers are not for sale. In fact, they are not meant to be worn at all but are merely for decorative purposes. This is probably due to concerns about the construction material’s durability under the stress of real-life wear.
Nevertheless, the artist’s attention to detail and creativity in replicating iconic sneakers is truly impressive. She has even turned some of the most beloved sneaker silhouettes into fashionable handbags, wallets, and other trendy items. Not to mention, she has teamed up with Nike Toronto and Nike By You to create a stunning Air Max 90 that tells her unique story. So, do be sure to check out her work.
The Potential of Jelly Sneakers
As for these jelly sneakers, I know many would love to get their hands on a pair of them. We are all for Nike and Jordan starting their own line of jelly shoes and bags. Of course, with their translucent look, there’s no hiding anything. So you would need to wear a good pair of socks with these. Cough, cough, you know who I’m talking to (sorry, inside joke—a tale for another time, perhaps).
Alternatively, they would make a great cover over a pair of leather Jordans to protect them from rain or other elements. Let’s hope they can collaborate with Vivian to bring this unique concept to life with wearable materials. I’d undoubtedly queue up for a pair.
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What do you think of these sneakers inspired by jelly shoes? Would you strut your stuff in a pair of Jelly Jordans or Slime Dunks, or do these designs miss the mark?
