Airwalk and Staple Design: A Good Combination?

I walked into Payless recently and saw this new line of shoes that I just had to write about. I wish it was because I had something good to say, but unfortunately I don't. To begin, what shoes exactly am I talking about?

It's part of Payless' Airwalk line, but a special variety. The box, unlike the iconic black or red, is black and white with a white top, and says Staple Design on it. Inside the box top, if you flip it over, you see the statement: "Welcome to the positive social contagion." Now, I won't rant about the lack of eco-friendly materials, or the exploitation of those on the floor, actually producing the shoe; beyond these abominations this is a very arrogant statement to make.

With something like this, I expect a great design. Yes, I know the Payless stigma and the ever common adage, "You get what you pay for," but they hired a special designer for the job. Am I still supposed to think that after contracting someone supposedly good at designing that these shoes are going to be terrible? Maybe, but I was still taken aback.

First off, let's talk about the total lack of originality in design. There are only two varieties of this shoe, and different colors to go along with it. One is a high top shoe, and the other is a sneaker. Can I can into more detail? Not really. You see, there are only two real designs, and from those there are different colors slapped on the shoe. Such as the brown and darker brown shoe. Or the gray/black/orange version. The completely white isn't too bad, I guess. But it's a hodge-podge of colors over the same design again and again. Not to mention the flagrant attempt to copy Nike 6.0 shoes, and failing to do so.

What else is hideous about this shoe? Color isn't the only hodge-podge to look forward to. No, you get a random dog tag like object affixed to the shoe which has the staple design logo (sTpL and a red bird), something like a man running on one side of the shoe, a small a (for Airwalk) on the other, and inside the shoe, for some reason, is "Star Trek," typed in the same font as the well known show.

Why is any of that necessary? I am a fan of abstract art, and I love finding small and symbolic pictures within a blot of paint, but I see no reason for any of this. It looks all slapped together and with no real design sense at all.

I really hope this brand picks up, because at this rate I see no reason why Airwalk contracted a designer to put two shades of brown together. Or make just an all white shoe (not to insult those who enjoy all white, I enjoy all white shoes as well, I'll talk about this in a moment).

If I were to describe these styles such words come to mind: dull, uninspired, listless, horrendous, cheap, unprofessional, and atrocious. Maybe some people will like this brand, I just don't see an appeal. They're cheaper than Nike 6.0 for sure, but unless you like to wear shoes that feel as if there were designed without any soul or passion, I would stay away from them. That is my largest concern, the lack of feeling in these shoes. I like my shoes to have passion, to feel as if someone poured over them when designing, and it's just absent here.

PS: I don't know if Payless is ashamed of them or what, but you can't find these shoes on the Payless web page. You actually have to look at the designer's page to find some of the designs.