Company debuts new sports shoe

JAKARTA (JP): U.S. footwear manufacturer Converse launched its new model Converse Helium in the country on Wednesday.

Managing director of the company's Asia-Pacific office Michael Ricketts said the shoe was different from other sports shoes because it was like having a shoe within a shoe.

"We have created the Converse Helium so athletes could feel more comfortable and play better," Ricketts said.

The "shoe in shoe" technology, according to Ken Darmawan of the company's Indonesia office, is the latest development in sports shoe technology of using helium in the heel of one shoe instead of air.

"Helium is seven times lighter than air. The helium is planted in the heels of the second shoe and it is leakproof," Ken said.

The shoes retail is for Rp 699,000 a pair and can be purchased at Planet Sport, Royal Sporting House, Sport Station and The Athlete's Foot. They are available in blue and silver.

"For the first three months of this year, we only plan to produce 5,000 of the model which will be distributed in most cities of Indonesia," Ken said. (lnt)