REEBOK | WOVEN INTO THE FUTURE

Earlier this fall, Reebok announced a new footwear technology called Flexweave - revolutionary shoe upper material that is incredibly versatile, providing a balance of lightness, durability, fit and stability. Reebok partnered with three designers across the world to create bespoke fitness prototypes to showcase this one-of-a-kind material.

The design partnerships within this collective are known as "Woven into the Future" and includes an altitude-training mask from the UK design collective Modla (ENG) that showcases the material’s softness and durability, an “active seat” from Dutch collective Odd Matter (AN) that highlights its flexibility and strength, and GPS-enabled gloves by Joe Doucet x Partners (USA) to display the material’s customization and versatility.

The Flexweave material will first be seen in the FAST Flexweave running shoe, available in February on Reebok.com, and the material was developed through the Reebok Innovation Collective (a division championing the open-sourced pursuit of progression via innovation and partnerships that aims to push the boundaries of invention). These partnerships with the global fitness brand explored the potential of Flexweave and explored its limitless potential to create a unique product that links form and function to create an aesthetic product that utilizes the benefits of the technology while serving a fitness purpose. Flexweave boasts an open figure-8 construction that interlocks unlimited strands of fibers to create a single surface construction that is as strong as it is light. All designers worked with the version of the textile that will appear in the first-generation of Reebok Flexweave footwear, launching in 2018, made from chenille yarn.

JOE DOUCET X PARTNERS -  New York City, United States

As a designer, entrepreneur, inventor and creative director, Joe Doucet is one of the most sought-after creative talents in America. Doucet designed a pair of Reebok Flexweave running gloves, form-fitting to the wearers hand, absorbing sweat as they run and lightweight for maximum comfort. The prototype was designed with the vision of being GPS-enabled, guiding the wearer through their run with flashing LED lights to indicate when to turn left or right.

“My inspiration was to capture the unique qualities of the Flexweave technology through something advantageous to an active lifestyle. The strength, flexibility and multi surface durability of Flexweave led me to the idea of a ‘smart’ running glove with a sleek, stylish silhouette. With the form crafted by Flexweave, the next stage of development would be GPS integration paving the way to a new frontier in wearable technology,” said Doucet.

ODD MATTER -  Rotterdam, The Netherlands

Odd Matter is a design studio driven by curiosity; researching, creating and exploring the world through its materials, processes and concept. The duo created a furniture series of ‘active sitting’ chairs; made through a combination of Reebok Flexweave and malleable EVA foam.

“The Inspiration for the chair came from the Flexweave material itself. Whilst experimenting and playing with the fabric we were very intrigued by its behavior, structure and strength under tension. From there we wanted to create an object that played with that tension, a bit like the string of a bow, something in which the tension and strength is palpable,” said Els Woldhek, Odd Matter.

“Working with the Flexweave was very interesting, for instance when cutting it in different directions you straight away notice the differences between the fibers and the technical properties of the Flexweave. This in turn has made us really curious about everything else that is possible with the technology.”

MODLA – London, England

Co-founded by Jon Fidler and Richard Goddard, Modla is an artistic design house specializing in technological innovation, pushing the creative boundaries of 3D printing and digital 3D design. The pair created an entirely new Reebok Flexweave altitude training mask; 3D printing the valve technology across the nose and mouth, coupled with a Flexweave facial strap to comfortably wrap around the wearer’s face during intense training.

"I do a lot of high intensity training so I’m interested in how such equipment works, functions and can help improve performance. But we also saw the potential in the aesthetic of the Flexweave material, to create something which would blend with the mask and align with the contours of the wearer’s face.

As it happens, the Flexweave material provided even more benefit than just the aesthetic and was amazing to work with. It’s strong and durable, so perfect for a product that will get a lot of wear and tear; while also incredibly lightweight, making it breathable on the face for athletes when training." said Fidler.

“Flexweave is going to a major part of the Reebok DNA moving forward. With this creative and imaginative project, we’ve achieved exactly what we set out to do; demonstrate through collaborations in other fields what Flexweave can truly achieve when put to the ultimate test,” said James Woolard, Global Marketing Director, Reebok Running.

“The Reebok Innovation Collection champions the pursuit of partnerships and innovations that will continue propelling the brand forward in spaces like fitness, fashion and footwear. Flexweave represents a huge step forward in footwear upper technology and brings with it a wave of anticipation and excitement for what the future holds for this brand”.

Reebok has extended the creative experience around Flexweave to its community, setting up an interactive digital experience on the Reebok Innovation Collective website called ‘Create Your Weave’; inviting you to construct your own virtual weave design and share it with friends.

The brand is also working with one of Savile Row’s finest tailors, Huntsman & Sons, to create a bespoke men’s suit made from Flexweave. Designed for Reebok Running ambassador and superstar WR Brandin Cooks, the experimental pursuit will be complete in Spring 2018.

---

Missed the Dec Issue of Athleisure Mag? Check out our cover girls EDM DJ duo NERVO.

THE SKINNY ON SMOOTHIES

We love having a smoothie to jump start our day as well as to keep us full in a healthy way. We also wanted to know more about what makes smoothies such a great item to include in our diets with Molly Breiner, Head of Marketing at ALOHA and Amy Geant, a nutrition expert.
She shares how this wellness trend has a number of benefits, its ability to boost energy and more.

ATHLEISURE MAG: Why are smoothies having such a moment right now?

MOLLY BREINER: We’ve seen the “wellness trend” really take off over the two years, and people are becoming more mindful of what they are putting into their bodies. That said, we live in a world where everyone is constantly on-the-go and convenience is crucial. Smoothies offer us a way to pack tons of nutrients and vitamins into one portable package, which is a rare feat these days. Plus, they’re easy on the eyes - the Instagram hashtag #smoothiebowl has early one million posts. People want to eat a healthy, satisfying meal, but we also eat with our eyes and it’s important for food to look as good as it tastes.

AM: What nutrients do smoothies provide?

MB: Smoothies are a great way to incorporate plant-based protein into your diet. Our finely-ground powder blends in seamlessly, and with flavors like vanilla, chocolate, banana and mixed berry, it adds flavor and richness. Our unique blend of pumpkin seeds, hemp seeds and pea protein is specifically designed to keep you feeling satisfied and energized.

Hemp seeds are one of the rare complete source of protein and are rich in Omega-3, 6 and 9, which are all necessary for optimal brain function.

Pumpkin seeds are an excellent source of protein, healthy fats, and fiber. These tiny seeds contain manganese, magnesium, phosphorus, and zinc, a unique combination that keeps you feeling full and energized for hours.

And, unlike its whey counterpart, our plant-based protein is anti-inflammatory and free of the most common allergens (dairy, gluten, and soy), making it a perfect option for almost everyone.

AM: What are 3 smoothie hacks to boost energy?

MB: The reason we love smoothies so much is because you can add almost anything to them without altering the flavor too drastically. A few of our favorite energy-boosting additions include matcha powder, a finely ground powder of specially grown and processed green tea that is packed with antioxidants, vitamins, and detoxifying properties - plus, ½ teaspoon
packs as much caffeine as one cup of coffee, without the jitters and eventual energy crash.

Maca powder is another one of our hacks - it has countless health benefits - far too many to explain in one paragraph, but we use it in our smoothies because it’s known for increasing
stamina and endurance. It is also an abundant source of vitamins, minerals, enzymes, 20 different kinds of amino acids - almost all of them, and anti oxidants. Not to mention, it stabilizes your mood, clears your skin, and prevents diseases.

Our favorite energy hack, however, is adding our Superfood Greens. Not only do they provide 200% of your daily Vitamin D requirement, they are packed with superfoods like spirulina,
mushrooms, and wheatgrass juice, giving you a much needed nutrient boost.

AM: What are 3 secret smoothie ingredients that boost nutrients in our smoothies?

MB: The nutrients completely depend on the ingredients you decide to incorporate into your concoction. We love to pack our veggies with as many smoothies as possible (much more fun
than eating them, right?). Some of our favorites are kale (high in copper, iron, magnesium and calcium), cauliflower (great way to get that thick, smoothie bowl texture and packed with vitamin C, vitamin K, folate, pantothenic acid, and vitamin B6) and sweet potato (adds a subtle sweetness and is loaded with vitamin A in the form of beta-carotene, vitamin C, potassium, and dietary fiber).

AM: How can a smoothie keep us full and what do you suggest should be in them?

MB: We asked our go-to nutrition expert, Amy Geant, to weigh in on this question. We always consult registered dietitians before giving out any nutrition advice.

AMY GEANT: Protein is one of the most important ingredients to help keep us feeling full. Carbohydrates like fruit are broken down by the body quickly, giving us a quick boost of energy, but not always a feeling of fullness for longer periods of time. Whereas protein takes
two to three hours to be fully metabolized, meaning your blood sugar, energy, and feeling of satiety should be quite stable for at least a couple hours. I usually recommend people put 10-15
grams of protein in their smoothies for snacks and 20-30 grams of protein if the smoothie is being used as a meal replacement. Protein powders are a great way to add the adequate lean
protein into a smoothie without taking in too many calories or carbohydrates.

AM: What does protein do in our bodies?

AG: Protein takes longer than carbohydrates the body to fully break down into glucose (sugar), so you get a gradual stream of energy over two to three hours after eating protein rather than a quick spike and then a crash. Keeping blood sugar steady is essential in keeping one's energy and metabolic rate stable (and avoiding that afternoon energy slump which can lead to cravings for sugar and carbohydrates).

AM: What smoothie would you suggest to someone who is new to adding this into their routine?

MB: Our favorite, easy, palatable combination is our very own Clean Green Smoothie. The best part is it’s low in sugar, high in protein and dietary fiber to keep you feeling full and energized
for hours. We have included the recipe below.

-½ frozen banana
-½ cup of frozen cauliflower (trust us on this one)
-One handful of fresh spinach
-2 scoops of ALOHA Vanilla Protein Powder
-Your choice of plant-based milk (¾ cup for a smoothie bowl, 1 cup for a drinkable smoothie)

Read more from the May Issue and see The Skinny on Smoothies in mag.