A Louisiana-based shoe startup has a new approach to footwear design.
Hygra’s new sneaker line features a unique water-based midsole cushioning system dubbed H2OPrO—a non-pressurized underfoot water capsule that provides comfort, support and energy return. Created by Eulexis Anderson, the collection’s first shoe, the Hydronaut, launched with a Kickstarter campaign this week before it hits the market in spring 2024.
“I’ve been a sneakerhead for quite a while, since my teenage years, and I’ve tested out everything” from air cushioning systems like the Nike Air Max to the Adidas Boost, made from expanded thermoplastic polyurethane, Anderson told Sourcing Journal. “I’ve was curious as to why no one ever tried water—it’s such a unique compound and it runs our planet,” he said. “I was generally curious about how it feels to walk on it, and we were up for the challenge of making that happen.”
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With the help of footwear designer and engineer Mark Britton, a veteran of Adidas, Palladium Shoes and Sorel, Anderson developed the concept for Hygra and the Hydronaut. Water is the throughline across the shoe’s entire construction, from textile and engineered nubuck uppers made from recycled ocean plastics to a midsole unit made with Bloom algae-based foam.
According to Anderson, the silhouette and its components reflect the brand’s commitment to ocean preservation. The patterns on the uppers are reminiscent of water represented on a topographical map, and each of the Hydronaut’s three color ways are named for “the most powerful rivers in the world”—the Amazon, the Nile and the Mississippi.
After developing running shoes, ballet flats, weather-proof winter boots and more during his two-decade career, Britton said he was ready for a novel request to pique his interest. “Anything that is going to be challenging or interesting is a project that I try and take on,” he said.
The partners encountered some obstacles during the design process. “One of the biggest was keeping the shoe flexible” despite the water capsule in its midsole, Britton said. “We had to develop the right compound for the container, and do it in a manner that sealed the water so it wouldn’t grow mold or algae.” Stability columns in the water capsule ensure that it maintains its original shape while providing enduring support, he added. The units are also sterilized and filled to keep air and other particles from intruding.
The result is a shoe that the partners said feels unlike others on the market, delivering both firmness and flexibility. In addition to ensuring that the sneaker performed as intended, Anderson wanted to showcase its most compelling feature through design. The water capsule is visible through cutouts on the side of the midsole, as well as a unique “window” on the sole. “I wanted to add that as a cool marketing detail—when someone is walking in front of you and you see the bottom of the foot lifting up from the back, you will see that window and it drives curiosity about what they’re wearing,” he said.
Hygra’s Kickstarter campaign will run for 30 days from its Nov. 14 launch, and aims to raise $25,000 to fund additional shoe mold purchases. It has raised $732 as of Wednesday afternoon. Currently only available in a men’s size 9, Anderson said he aims to launch the brand next spring with a full size run for men in sizes 7-14, as well as women’s sizes. The funding will also help Hygra to iterate on its H2OPrO cushioning system with its Dongguan, China production partners and refine its overall design. The initial production run will ship in early 2024, and he hopes to take the shoes on the road to events like Complex Con, where attendees are usually interested in the latest innovation.
Kickstarter patrons can purchase the Hydronaut in two color ways—Desert Oasis, a combination of tan, black and teal, and Vanilla Glacier, a denim blue and eggshell white combination—at a discounted price of $225. A third color way, Midnight Storm, which combines royal purple, grey and white, is currently in development. Made for casual wear, Anderson said he said he envisions the Hydronaut as an “everyday lifestyle shoe.”
“Instead of trying to sell the product on use cases, I think it’s important to connect with the end user from an inspirational point of view,” he said. “If you can walk on water, you can pretty much do anything.”