Engineered knit — black base with metallic gold/bronze Lurex fleck yarn integrated throughout. No external overlays, no leather panels, no applied graphics. The surface is entirely knit, with internal structure provided by a bonded TPU toe cap and a thermoplastic heel counter. Zoned construction: tighter gauge at toe and heel for shape retention, open weave at midfoot for breathability, soft loop pile at collar for fit and comfort. The collar transition should be seamless — no change in outer surface character, only in knit density.

The metallic fleck should read as embedded in the material — not applied on top of it. The yarn activates under incandescent and raking light, and reads more subtly under flat or fluorescent sources. The shoe should look different in a retail environment than it does under natural light outdoors. This is a feature, not an inconsistency. Plan campaign photography accordingly.

Low-poly faceted geometry across the full midsole volume — crystalline reference, not biomorphic. Angular transitions, sharp ridges, flat facet planes. The geometry must hold at retail distance (4–6 feet) and maintain its character on-foot. Do not over-smooth edges for production — the point is the facets.

Tonal black. Semi-gloss finish — not matte, not full gloss. Full matte would flatten the facets and eliminate the plane differentiation that gives the midsole its depth. Full gloss would read fashion-cheap. Semi-gloss catches light on the facet planes and creates dimensionality without competing with the metallic yarn activity in the upper. Finish achieved through material compound and post-processing — no paint.

Single-piece engineered flat knit preferred. Zone programming on the loom: structured (tighter gauge) at toe and heel, open (looser gauge) at midfoot, loop pile at collar. Metallic Lurex-type yarn blended into base yarn throughout — approximately 15–20% of total yarn count by weight. Knit upper sewn to strobel sock at base for bootie construction. Strobel edge must be sealed with heat tape or edge sealer before midsole bonding — unsealed knit wicks adhesive up into the knit face, which reads through as contamination on the tonal black upper.

3D-printed TPU chassis is the recommended production midsole — not a prototype approximation of an eventual injection-molded part. The faceted geometry as designed cannot be faithfully reproduced through standard compression or injection molding without geometric rationalization significant enough to compromise the aesthetic. The undercut facet angles and near-vertical face transitions create draft angle conflicts that would require softening incompatible with the design intent.

Print technology: SLS at prototype stage, transitioning to MJF or binder jetting at scale. The color change from the original cool grey to tonal black has no process implications — it is a material compound specification only. Semi-gloss finish may require post-processing (tumbling, vapor smoothing) — confirm approach with print partner before first sample. The midsole datum width at the upper bond interface is 10mm — wider than a standard lasted construction to compensate for reduced rigidity at the knit strobel base.