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Mario’s Boots

To illustrate the higher level of detail Mario would have in making the leap to the big screen in The Super Mario Bros. Movie, making it truly a cinematic event, we wanted to take something familiar to fans and render it in a way they had never seen before.

These are Mario’s boots with bounce. Yes, they’re real, and yes, they’re very heavy.

While sneaker culture consistently makes headlines, our focus to create Mario’s boots was also inspired by an insight we noticed in fan reactions to Mario’s new look.

To render those laces to a fidelity that would earn the respect of not just fans but actual plumbers, we turned to the team at Red Wing Shoes.

We worked tirelessly with their expert craftspeople to transform our CGI film models into a real, to-scale pair of workman boots featuring genuine leather and a mushroom-infused mycelium heel pad.

To announce the pair’s creation to the world, Nintendo legend Shigeru Miyamoto teased their unveiling during a Nintendo Direct streaming event to celebrate MAR10 Day (March 10).

The next morning, the Nintendo New York store was greeted by a line down the block of cosplaying fans eager to get their eyes on this legendary pair.

As anticipation hit a fever pitch, a Super Mario Bros. Plumbing van pulled up, with two security representatives delivering the boots under heavy guard to a custom-built display case.

Those first in attendance at the event walked away with limited-edition commerative impressions of Mario’s boots. A few even showed up on ebay.

Of course, the Internet took notice, bringing us into the same conversation as MSCHF’s Big Red Boots.

Even Klay Thompson couldn’t resist lacing them up in an ESPN promo for the Warriors’ Playoffs run.

But the ultimate arbiter of cultural penetration hit when the boots showed up as an answer on Jeopardy!

Not bad for a boy from Brooklyn.

Shout-Outs:
Karine Grigorian, Will Lenz, Gil Cuffy, Cameron Farrelly, the entire team at Red Wing Shoes

Thanks to everyone who helped me get this far.