Khamis Studio – Redefining Comfort with the Hezi Slide

Over the last few years, Khamis Studio has continuously pushed the boundaries of footwear design. With the introduction of the Hezi Slide, the brand takes its vision even further. Inspired by the needs of athletes and those who prioritize both style and comfort, this innovative slide seamlessly blends modern aesthetics with functional design. Crafted in collaboration with Zellerfeld, the Hezi Slide redefines post-workout and everyday footwear, proving that recovery and relaxation can be both stylish and performance-driven. We find out more :

What was the main inspiration behind this Slide design?

The Hezi Slide was inspired directly from my previous shoe, the Hezi. As a former running athlete and casual basketball player I can really appreciate the moments after a hard practice or long day of pick up when you can slip into your slides. Those moments always inspire me to create a comfortable solution and I want to make that type of footwear look more stylized too.

When we last spoke, it was still in progress, what was the biggest challenge in bringing it to life?

The biggest challenge was just getting the fit to be extremely comfortable. Slides seem simple but every surface of the footbed and the strap need to be tailored to comfortably hold your foot in place while still being easy to slip into. This took some time developing a nice last shape with the Zellerfeld team.

How did the final product differ from your initial vision? Were there any unexpected changes along the way?

I’m quite happy with how it turned out. It looks exactly as I visualized in my head. The only real changes were very subtle details that didn’t really affect it visually.

Can you walk us through the material choices and why they are selected?

The Hezi Slide is made up of a single material, a flexible TPU. Each zone of the slide is printed in such a structure depending on the function. The upper strap has a nice soft and airy puff to it, while the outsole is printed dense for durability. And underfoot is a thin open mesh footbed texture to mimic a cushioned sockliner and provide some breathability.

What details or hidden elements should people pay attention to?

I always have fun designing outsole patterns because there’s a lot you can do with it creatively. I don’t know how much it’s really hidden but all the wavy lines and shapes ripple outward from my logo in the middle.

How do you see people styling or wearing this Slide, casual, lounge, or something else?

I see them as a pretty versatile piece for different occasions. They make a perfect slip on to wear around the house casually. I have a background as an athlete who ran cross country and track and field so my intention was for this to be a more stylish yet functional version of a post or pre race/game recovery slide. I would love to see how athletes style it for their pre game tunnel fits.

The slide market has exploded in recent years, what are the reasons for this?

A lot of the things we wear have trended toward comfort and ease. Slides provide a convenient accessibility and allow your feet to rest and splay out more naturally. There have been lots of major sneaker brands heavily impacting the market for slides but I think it’s just a simple answer. Everybody loves slides!

What do you hope this Slide represents for your brand moving forward?

I hope it represents my brand’s approach to pushing boundaries in an unconventional way. I hope people will see the slides, appreciate the details and seek to learn more about the perspective I have when I design new footwear.