CROs MARS MELLOW: The Sneaker of the Future

CRO takes off to new heights with the launch of his new sneaker MARS MELLOW in collaboration with Zellerfeld. Known for their innovative use of 3D printing technology, CRO is launching a shoe that inhabits fashion, music and technology. The MARS MELLOW, a tribute to CRO’s ‘trapped in paradise’ concept, reflects creative freedom and playful exploration of the unknown – a shoe that seems to be made for mars, yet is home on earth.

Since his breakthrough in 2012 with Raop, CRO has shown that he is far more than just a musician. His continuous artistic development and his unmistakable way of combining music and fashion make the collaboration feel like an organic extension of his work. The MARS MELLOW stands for lightness, comfort and futuristic aesthetics and symbolises CRO’s unmistakable mix of playfulness and visionary design.

In conversation with SLEEK , CRO talks about his sources of inspiration, the connection between fashion and technology and how the MARS MELLOW is not just a sneaker, but a statement of the future.

Lina Kürschner: What role do sustainability and innovation play for you in the development of fashion and design? Especially because you have opted for a very innovative technology with Zellerfeld 3D printing.

CRO: Sustainability is close to my heart. My aim is for my work not only to be aesthetically pleasing, but also to make a positive contribution. I am convinced that we have a responsibility as artists and designers. I recognised the potential of 3D printing with my mask and have now found the ideal partner in Zellerfeld to realise innovative and pioneering approaches on a global scale. What is particularly fascinating is how 3D technology enables us to develop completely new designs – creations that would have been simply unthinkable in the past.

LK: Is the ‘space’ vibe of the Mars Mellow shoes a teaser for the concept for some of your new songs coming out in the future? 

C: I have always loved combining visual and musical elements. Nevertheless, design and art are also very important to me beyond music. I have been pursuing shoe design since I was a child and now, with the Mars Mellow, I have been able to translate my vision of a playful, exceptionally aesthetic but also comfortable and lightweight shoe into reality. The accompanying campaign perfectly reflects both me and the shoe. I am convinced that this creative process will also inspire and enrich my musical work.

LK: What inspires you the most right now, musically and creatively?

C: We live in a time in which the pace feels like it is increasing every day. Technologies such as artificial intelligence – ChatGPT, for example – and 3D printing create shortcuts and accelerate development processes enormously. This dynamic fascinates me, but it can also be intimidating to a certain extent. Nevertheless, it is precisely this change that we are all going through that inspires me and opens up new perspectives. I also draw my inspiration from my travels and the people around me – be they friends or fans who attend my concerts. Their stories and experiences are a strong driving force for my creative work.

LK: To what extent do you see your creativity as an expression of an overall concept that goes beyond individual disciplines such as fashion or music and creates a world of its own?

C: For me, creativity is a holistic process where everything I do is part of a larger narrative. Music and fashion are not separate realms for me, they are closely interrelated. I want to give people the opportunity to immerse themselves in the world I create – a world that reflects my emotions, ideas and themes and in which they can find themselves. That is the essential thing for me.