Press Release
160X 6.0 Pro Shoes by Xtep (China) Co., Ltd. Receives the Platinum A' Design Award in Footwear, Shoes and Boots Design
The international grand jury of the 2024 - 2025 A' Design Award & Competition recognizes Xtep (China) Co., Ltd. for footwear, shoes and boots design
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
COMO, Italy, April 18, 2025 /DesignNewswire/ A' Design Award & Competition has confirmed the Platinum A' Design Award in the Footwear, Shoes and Boots Design category for 160X 6.0 Pro Shoes by Xtep (China) Co., Ltd.. The award was conferred within the 2024 - 2025 A' Design Award & Competition and was decided through blind peer review by an international grand jury panel of established academics, design professionals and press members, who scored anonymized entries against predetermined criteria.
What the Platinum A' Design Award Means
The Platinum A' Design Award is recognized for honoring designs that stand at the forefront of creativity and innovation. It is the highest accolade bestowed by the A' Design Awards, acknowledging works that blend remarkable innovation with impactful societal contributions. These designs not only showcase exceptional artistic and technical proficiency but also highlight their creators' commitment to advancing the boundaries of art, science, design, and technology. Recipients of this award are celebrated for their role in shaping the aesthetics and trends of our time, contributing significantly to the enhancement of quality of life and promoting sustainable development.
More About 160X 6.0 Pro Shoes
The 160X 6.0 Pro is a running shoe developed for marathon races. The shoe weighs 171 grams, which reduces the load carried by runners over long distances. A lightweight carbon plate combines polyimide fibers with eight layers of carbon fiber. A split toe design and a raised arch contour add forefoot flexibility and propulsion, while an inwardly curved sidewall improves stability upon landing. The midsole is made with Xtep Ace technology and foam injection molding, and the outsole uses CPU material. The jacquard upper is breathable and wraps the foot.
About Xtep (China) Co., Ltd.
Xtep Group is a multi-brand, international sporting goods enterprise specializing in the design, development, manufacturing and marketing of sports shoes, clothing and accessories. Founded in 1987, the Xtep brand was founded in 2001 and listed in Hong Kong on June 3, 2008, in 2019, overseas mergers and acquisitions of a number of international brands, opening a multi-brand, international development path. The group owns the main brand Xtep (China) and internationally renowned sports brands such as Saucony (USA), Merrell (USA), K-Swiss (US), Paladium (France) and so on. After more than 30 years of development, Xtep has become a leading sporting goods enterprise in China.
Award Record
Xtep (China) Co., Ltd. is a winner of 3 A' Design Awards, including this recognition. The awards span the editions from 2021 - 2022 to 2024 - 2025 of the A' Design Award & Competition.
About the A' Footwear, Shoes and Boots Design Award
The A' Footwear Design Award is an international footwear design competition recognizing good footwears by leading footwear brands and designers worldwide. The competition is organized within the A' Design Award & Competition and is open to footwear designers, shoe designers, boot designers and fashion designers from all countries. Entries typically include shoes, sneakers, sandals, boots, heels and loafers. Awarded footwear designs are published at https://dezigners.org/design-category/footwear
About A' Design Award & Competition
A' Design Award & Competition is an international, juried design accolade organized annually since 2008. The competition is open to entries from all countries. The A' Design Award has a philanthropic mission to advance society through good design by recognizing and promoting superior products, projects and services that benefit society, and by creating a global awareness and appreciation for good design practices and principles. Entries are peer reviewed and anonymously evaluated by an international grand jury panel of established academics, design professionals and press members against predetermined criteria such as functionality, ergonomics, engineering, presentation, innovation, usability, sustainability and technology, with score normalization applied to remove biases. Awards are conferred at Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze and Iron levels. The A' Design Prize granted to eligible laureates includes the award trophy, the certificate of design excellence, the hardcover yearbook, a lifetime license to use the A' Design Award winner logo, exhibition of awarded works, an invitation to the gala night and award ceremony in Italy, inclusion in the World Design Rankings and Designer Rankings, and public relations and publicity services. Registration, the upload of a work and the preliminary score are free of charge, and Professional and Digital Edition laureates are not contractually obliged to pay further fees to claim the A' Design Prize. Further information is available at https://competition.adesignaward.com
Press Resources
- Winner Page: https://dezigners.org/162482
- A' Design Award Page: https://competition.adesignaward.com/162482
- Media Showcase: https://www.designnewsroom.com/!162482
- Laureate Profile: https://dezigners.org/d/331226
Media Contact
Giulia Ferrari, Press Office
Designers.Org
Via Leone Leoni 32, 22100 Como, Italy
press@designers.org
+39 031 4491953
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Fact Sheet
The Work
- Project
- 160X 6.0 Pro Shoes
- Function
- Shoes
- Category
- Footwear, Shoes and Boots Design
- Discipline
- Fashion Design
- Industry
- Fashion and Sports
- Colors
- Medium Turquoise, Gainsboro, Thistle, White Smoke and Sandy Brown
- Images
- 5
The Recognition
- Laureate
- Xtep (China) Co., Ltd.
- Country
- China
- Recognition
- Platinum A' Design Award
- Edition
- 2024 - 2025
- Design ID
- #162482
Credits
- Team
- Long Zhang
Design Details
- Unique Properties
- The 160X6.0 Pro redefines marathon shoes with its maximum efficiency and minimal weight. It pioneers the use of an aerospace grade carbon plate, crafted from globally unprecedented materials. It is further enhanced with an innovative structure and groundbreaking Xtep ace midsole technology to deliver stronger propulsion. Weighing just 171g, it significantly reduces the burden on runners, allowing them to achieve peak performance.
- Inspiration
- In the realm of marathons, where physical strength, stamina, and willpower are put to the test, a right pair of running shoes can make all the difference. The 160X6.0 Pro rises to this challenge. Meticulously enhancing every aspect through material and structural innovations, it is lighter, propels with greater efficiency, provides steadfast stability, and envelops feet in unparalleled comfort, pushing marathoners beyond their limits and reaching a new height of achievement.
- Research
- As global marathon events gain popularity and competitive levels rise, professional marathoners are demanding more from their gear, seeking to minimize equipment weight without compromising their race performance, all in pursuit of enhanced athletic efficiency. In response, the 160X6.0 Pro has been innovated in materials, craftsmanship, and structure, ultimately reducing the shoe weigh to merely 171g while delivering strong propulsion to help runners improve their performance.
- Challenge
- The main challenge in this design was to strike a balance between comfort and high performance during prolonged running. To this end, the design team worked closely with numerous professional marathoners, meticulously refining the shoe design based on detailed analyses of their morphology and running patterns. Additionally, they optimized the midsole, carbon plate, and manufacturing techniques, all aimed at optimal comfort and race performance.
- Realization and Technology
- 1.A lightweight, cushioned, and durable midsole: crafted using Xtep Ace technology and foam injection molding. 2.A lightweight carbon plate of high strength: combining polyimide fibers with eight layers of carbon fiber. 3.A lightweight and durable outsole: made from Cpu material. 4.A breathable and lightweight upper that comfortably wraps around the foot: featuring a custom Jacquard design.
- Operation and Interaction
- The carbon plate incorporates a split toe design and a raised arch contour, enhancing forefoot flexibility while also offering stronger propulsion. This synergy empowers marathoner to achieve their peak performance. Moreover, the carbon plate utilizes an inwardly up curved sidewall design to improve stability upon landing, and the heel to toe drop at the midsole is increased from 3mm to 5mm to boost rebound and shock absorption, assuring secure strides as marathoners as they push their limits.
- Project Duration and Location
- The design and development of the 160X6.0 Pro started in May, 2023, in Xiamen, with an anticipated market launch set for August 2024.
- Keywords
- Marathon shoes, Strong propulsion, Lightweight design, Safe cushioning, Durable
