Stephen Curry’s partnership with Under Armour has already produced some tough silhouettes and eye-catching colorways. And while neither Steph or UA is unhappy with how many people are rocking the kicks on the streets, there was a clear objective for the Curry 3—make the best basketball sneaker they possibly could.
Kort Neumann, Senior Sneaker Designer at UA, and his team, hit the lab to develop a light and comfortable sneaker. The result of their year-long project is a sneaker that features two pieces of UA tech that are appearing for the first time on the Curry 3.
Neumann utilized the adaptive Threadborne material for the 3’s upper. Threadborne, hot off the UA presses, is a bunch of high-tension threads woven together, providing freedom of movement, along with support and breathability.
“The level of how you can customize [Threadborne] is amazing,” Neumann says. “There’s so many different variations of how you can apply it that it really took us a little while to figure out how to get the best of both worlds, in terms of performance and aesthetics. Depending on category, the Threadborne can look different because of the different performance attributes that are needed.”
The versatility of the Threadborne is complemented by the other new feature of the 3, two carbon fiber wings on either side of the sneaker.
“[The Meta-Wings are] a stabilizing mechanism for your subtalar joint,” Neumann says. “What your subtalar joint does is stabilize your foot from left to right on an even surface. If you’re cutting really hard, your subtalar joint is involved in keeping you stable while you’re doing that movement.”
UA is bringing back Charged cushioning, which absorbs impact and converts it into a responsive burst to enhance first-step speed and change of direction. And after being part of Curry’s first signature sneaker, UA’s Anafoam technology makes a return on the 3. The Anafoam gives extra boost to the medial side of the sneaker.
The back-to-back MVP was heavily involved in the design process of the 3, from the first sketches to the final reveal. “It takes him a little while to look at something, really digest it and then he comes back with amazing insight on how we can improve it, or what he likes about it,” Neumann says.
Neumann says that Curry’s main point of emphasis is comfort. So even before he and the design team talked about colorways, the 3 had to be responsive and supportive.
“Being able to work directly with my team at Under Armour on the Curry 3 has been an incredible experience,” Curry said, via press release. “I know that we have created something really special. Working in collaboration with my UA team from start to finish on inspiration, design and fit will without question drive us to success.”
“He’s a super humble guy, super easy to talk to,” Neumann says about Curry. “The guy’s got a good eye. Steph’s a pleasure to work with.”
The combination of Threadborne and the carbon fiber Meta-Wing technology got the Curry seal of approval. And don’t worry, Neumann says there will still be some fire ‘ways for the 3, which means Curry will be dancing all over his opponents this season in a stylish pair of UA’s most efficient, high-performance basketball silhouette to date.
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The Curry 3 mid style retails for $140.00 and debuts globally at UA.com and the UA Shop App on October 25 with the “Dub Nation Heritage” colorway. The “SC Camo” colorway follows with a release at retailers worldwide on October 27.
Photos courtesy of Under Armour
