70 years in the making
Chrome Forged Rubber™ started with a simple idea:
to make the best city sneaker in the world.
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the world doesn't need another sneaker. this is not another sneaker. Sometimes technology advances too far, too fast. For the sake of efficiency, mass-produced products often compromise the best way to make things. Today most vulcanized sneakers are made with an autoclave process that attaches several pieces together with heat and glue. If not assembled properly, separation can occur and the sneaker can fail. Chrome Forged Rubber™ sneakers are made the same way army boots were made 70 years ago, one at a time, by hand.
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1. salvage machines from slovakia Chrome Forged Rubber™ sneakers are made with DESMA vulcanization machines. DESMA was founded in Germany and at one point was responsible for making over 90% of Europe's safety shoes and boots. DESMA vulcanization machines are the size of a dishwasher. It takes 10 minutes to make each shoe using heat at 300 degrees Fahrenheit and pressure, fusing the rubber sole directly to the upper. We found these machines in the basement of a factory in Slovakia, refurbished them, and shipped them to Thailand to where the rubber trees are.
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dima /deema/
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2. make them where the rubber trees are Natural latex must be used within 3-5 days of harvesting before it becomes unusable. We moved our Forged Rubber™ machines as close as we could to the rubber tree farms, ensuring that only fresh virgin rubber is used. On a rubber tree farm, the trees grow to be as tall as 80 feet. Harvesters make a small thin incision in the form of a half downward spiral on the tree's bark, cutting through its latex vessels. This process is known as "rubber tapping." The incision creates a flow of latex from the tree which is collected in small buckets. If the tapping process is done correctly these trees can produce latex for up to 5 years. The tapping process is done late at night or early in the morning before the day's heat rises so the latex will drip longer before solidifying and closing the cut. The Forged Rubber™ process uses no toxic cements or chemical bonding solutions.
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timur /tee-moor/
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3. forge the rubber directly to the upper Forged Rubber™ is a slower, more bombproof way to make vulcanized shoes. The rubber sole is fused directly to the upper with no toxic adhesives. This is the most durable way to attach a rubber sole to an upper. The rubber penetrates the canvas at 300 degrees Fahrenheit to create a bond that is durable, a sole that is incredibly flexible, and a shoe that has a natural feel. Chrome Forged Rubber™ is the most resourceful way to make the best city sneaker in the world.
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4. make sneakers for the city DURABLE Forged Rubber™ is the most durable way to attach a rubber sole to an upper. We fuse the sole directly to the canvas uppers at 300 degrees Fahrenheit
REFLECTIVE Features Chrome’s signature reflective heel for night visibility
ODOR RESISTANT For sockless wear we added an antimicrobial sock liner for odor resistance
FLEXIBLE Fusing the sole directly to the upper produces a more flexible, comfortable feel than modern vulcanized sneakers
BREATHABLE To provide the right balance of breathability and durability we use the same 12oz. canvas used in fire hoses
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chrome
SINCE 1995 We spent the last 19 years making simple, tough and functional gear that works both on and off your bike. We provide purposeful products that stand up against the outside elements and harshness of daily city living. Street tested. Everything you need, and nothing you don’t. These basic credos will never change. They guide us everyday in everything we do.
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forged rubber™: 70 years in the making
TM