Atlantica

The tennis ball is a composite product made from rubber, glue, synthetic, and natural felt materials. Due to this highly industrial makeup, it is almost impossible to recycle tennis balls effectively. To breathe new life into this problematic waste product, we sourced sample aggregates from across the United States to create material studies for sole and midsole footwear solutions.

A self-initiated project, Atlantica is an on-going experimental study that examines the nature and function of materials, both new and used. It questions consumption and investigates hidden potential and commercial possibilities through accountable recycling.

Around 300 million tennis balls are manufactured each year – and all of them are destined for landfill at the end of their use. Atlantica seeks to minimise this waste with a new alternative.

Developing the project in collaboration with mould-making and footwear specialists, the studio is exploring how the tennis ball aggregate can be reused to create a performance-enhanced slider and sandal. The project includes rendered visual concepts alongside material samples and casting techniques.

Project details:

Client:
Rogue projects

Location:
London

Categories:
Concept, Design

Timeline:
2019-

Taking sample aggregates from a variety of tennis balls, we conducted studies to consider how a dynamic midsole filling could be made by combining the waste material with a resin and silicone mix.

Tests were carried out with tear-resistant clear resin and semi-flexible resin. We built acrylic moulds for each study and introduced aggregate during the curing process as the resin became denser and more viscous, paying special attention to the ratios of aggregate to resin.

Through these tests, the tennis ball rubber emerged as a key ingredient of the composite, making for a soft, sturdy and highly functional midsole. Meanwhile, the felt elements used in the sole offer a colour accent that pays homage to the tennis balls’ previous life.

The tennis ball material is unique. The main component is a strong galvanized rubber that is both supple and robust. The felt offers a soft aesthetic, adding a fluorescent yellow pantone to a grey, brown, and blue rubber constitute. From our initial experimentation with silicone moulds, we found that the material had the necessary feel, flex, and properties to make for an ideal slider, or the midsole of a performance or lifestyle shoe.