Tom Asta pro
New from eS footwear, a super fresh shoe that embodies the OG skate aesthetic through a contemporary lens, while simultaneously investing in a current team rider :)
The original sketch
I read a comment from a stranger somewhere on the internet mentioning that Tom Asta is kind of like this generation’s Ronnie Creager. A ledge tech guru with the ability to throw a hammer down when necessary. So, this design is heavily inspired by the eS Ronnie Creager pro from 1998, a classic design from late 90s skateboarding.
The original Ronnie creager pro model as seen in a Fall 2000 catalog.
The OG creager is a masterpiece .. it’s easily in my list of top 10 footwear designs of all time. One of my favorite elements of the design is the giant embroidered branding in the center of the mesh window on the quarter panel. The fact that the logo is slightly rotated and blown up so its cropped by the paneling is an unbelievably tasteful move. A testament to the ‘artistic touch’ that defined the aesthetic of late 90s skateboard footwear. And of course, the rubber toe cap and the heel airbag - All skate shoes without these two elements are invalid.
The Asta pro features a gradient everstitch upper with a suede (or synthetic) panel wrapping over the vamp. On top of the vamp panel sits an OG rubber toe cap - none of that heat welded bullsh*t, and above the toe cap in the ollie area is a small rubber emblem for added durability and tactile sensation. The quarter panel features a thin translucent TPR panel (protecting the upper and collar area) with a cutout in the center exposing a perforated neoprene window embellished with an embroidered logo. The upper sits on a dual-density foam midsole, and is capped by a translucent rubber cupsole. The ‘airbag’ style cutouts in the heel expose an impact resistant proprietary foam compound that is housed within the more supportive carrier foam.
A rare look at the tread pattern of the Creager pro.
The new concept takes direct inspiration from the og by using a herringbone-style tread in the toe, center, and heel of the sole, while the areas in the forefoot and rear are filled in with wavy horizontal grooves. In order to bring the tread into the future, the spaces in-between the horizontal grooves are filled with zig-zag siping, taking inspiration from boat shoes (also called ‘deck shoes’, a play on words in this context) and car tires, intended to provide superior traction on slick surfaces. The combination of the reliefs and siping also allow for more flexibility underfoot and a ‘dynamic’ grip experience. The herringbone traction in the toe area has been rotated at an angle which is geared towards gripping the board while ‘scooping’ for tricks like 360 flips etc.
Unfortunately, I am not satisfied with this solution.. Even though it is a play on the OG Creager tread, I felt it was underwhelming in comparison to the sporty futuristic design of the upper. Back to the drawing board
Early tread exploration: Playing with lots of random ideas hoping to find something interesting that might fit the vibe of the shoe…
I then decided to do some research in order to come up with a more suitable solution. Before this shoe went full Creager/Asta, it was intended to be a team shoe called the ‘photon’. So for inspiration I simply looked up, “What does a photon look like” and then followed the rabbit hole of google images hoping to get inspired and find something that might function as a tread pattern. Once I started to get into ‘celestial beings’ I knew it was time to dial it back.
Eventually, I decided to use my time elsewhere, so for the time being, the current tread design will serve as a placeholder. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Congrats Tom, youve been sketchy-fied.
-sketchy2021-
