K-Degree









 The Root of the K-Degree EVA Clogs: Gomusin
a Traditional Korean Footwear

 

 

What is Gomusin?

Gomusin is a traditional Korean rubber shoe that was sold for the first time in 1922. “Gomu” means rubber and “sin” means shoe in Korean.

It was the most popular footwear of choice among all Koreans due to its durability and affordable price.

Throughout the years in the past, Gomusin has been THE SHOE for Korean people
A PROOF OF GREATNESS
In 1974, a now-famous co-founder of an up-and-coming running shoe company from  Beaverton, Oregon went to visit a Gomusin factory in Busan, Korea, and found out that the factory produced such high-quality shoes with elite-level craftsmanship.
He placed an order for 3,000 pairs of running shoes to start after examining the factory.
That company is now the no. 1 sports footwear company in the world.
This shows the greatness of Gomusin and the craftsmanship of Koreans.
ON THE FEET OF KOREANS THROUGH HARDSHIPS
Gomusin has been a big part of Korean history throughout the years in the past.
While fighting for freedom and independence from Japanese occupation, taking refuge during the Korean War for survival, and trying to recover from economic crisis by dedicating hard labor, Gomusin was on the feet of many Koreans, carrying them through all the blood, sweat, and tears for a better tomorrow.
That spirit is still with Korean people today and it has been the foundation of the Korean Wave that is occurring all over the world today.

 

It started with Gomusin and a desire to be a part of the Korean Wave as proud 1.5-generation Korean Americans. 

We wanted to bring Gomusin back to life, but since the original Gomusin is more than 100 years old, we needed to make it wearable and comfortable. To achieve this, modern-day technology and materials are used to solve the problems the original Gomusin had.

One of the problems with the original Gomusin was the material it used. Although one-piece rubber is durable, it made the foot sweaty and uncomfortable. So, we changed rubber to EVA (ethylene-vinyl acetate) material with a mixture of our secret compound material which makes the shoe lightweight and comfortable.

Another problem was the support around midfoot. The shoe would get loose if the size didn’t fit the same as the foot. To solve this problem, we added a magnetic midfoot strap, which we got inspiration from a smartwatch, to add much-needed support while also providing options to change colors and fit. We used genuine leather for a luxurious look and feel.

Lastly, we wanted to implement modern-day motorsports design language to not only make the shoe look good but also to add stability and protection. The inspiration came from wide-body sportscars and high-end, luxury driving loafers.Executing these elements wasn’t an easy process, but by rigorous wear testing and researching, we are proud to present the K-Degree 1 EVA Clogs and we hope you enjoy the shoe and the story of our inspiration as much as we did during our development process.
  • E-Bike Boots - OFF-ROAD E-BIKE BOOTS
  • E-Bike Sneakers - DOWNTOWN & UPTOWN