Matt Franklin Unveils the Creative Journey Behind Kyrie Irving’s ANTA Kai 1 Speed

Few brands have emerged as quickly—and boldly—as ANTA in sneaker design. More eyes have been on the Chinese sportswear brand ever since Kyrie Irving joined the team, with his first model, the ANTA Kai 1, launching earlier in the year. Sole Retriever was fortunate to speak with Jared Subawon, the designer of the Kai 1, earlier in the year, who provided some behind-the-scenes looks into the process of the model’s creation. Just a month after introducing the new Kai 1 Speed model, we connected with Matt Franklin, the ANTA Kai 1 Speed lead designer, to get a full rundown on the sneaker.

Franklin isn’t your typical sneaker designer. He didn’t cut his teeth at a prestigious design school or start his career in a major sportswear brand. “My path to footwear is super unconventional," Franklin shared. "I grew up knowing I wanted to be a footwear designer, but I went to college for sports management, played soccer, and even got a job at Chobani.” During this period, Franklin realized he needed to return to his passion. "I got the itch again and started drawing, and that’s when I found Pensole. From there, everything fell into place."

As for his advice to those looking to make it in the footwear industry, Franklin told us, “Don’t give up. It took me years to break into the industry, but if you’re passionate about it, keep going. You never know where your journey will take you.”

The Creative Process Behind the ANTA Kai 1 Speed

Designing the Kai 1 Speed wasn’t just about creating another basketball shoe. It was about telling a story through footwear. Franklin and his team at ANTA took a collaborative approach to designing the sneaker, a process that stood out to him. "We have a great team here," Franklin said. "It's really a team effort. Even though my sketch was picked, the final product is the result of countless contributions from the team. We all bounce ideas off each other, and it’s not about one person being above everyone else."

This collaborative ethos at ANTA fostered an environment where creativity could thrive, allowing Franklin and his team to build a sneaker that performed well on the court and embodied Kyrie Irving's personal stories and cultural influences. One key aspect of the Kai 1 Speed's design was the way it balanced aesthetics and performance. "A big thing that's being lost in footwear today is storytelling," Franklin emphasized. "At ANTA, we make sure the stories are being told through design." Matt also added that "the mastermind behind the color is Shaneika [Warden], nothing would look good without her."

Like the Kai 1, the Kai 1 Speed was designed using Gravity Sketch, a 3D VR design program. Franklin recalls Irving first putting on the VR headset and being wowed by the process: “If I remember correctly, he said something along the line ‘I have a whole new respect for what you guys do.”

Dred's Impact on the Kai 1 Speed

While Kyrie inspired and informed the technical details of the sneaker, according to Franklin, Irving’s father, Dred, was deeply involved in shaping the shoe's storytelling and colorways. "Dred gave us a lot of interesting stories that influenced the colorways," Franklin revealed. "It was really cool learning about their bond and bringing that to life in the shoe." One such story is the initial Twin Flame colorway, inspired by Dred’s relationship with his late wife, Elizabeth, and their shared time in Boston. Franklin also shared that “Dred wanted to create a shoe to give back to Kyrie,” which also helped inform the design of many of the colorways on the sneaker.

The Evolution of the Kai 1 Speed

Compared to its predecessor, the Kai 1, the Speed version is designed to be sleeker and lighter, with a more streamlined look and feel. However, Franklin quickly clarifies that it's not necessarily an improvement over the original Kai 1 but rather a different approach to meet specific performance needs.

"Both shoes have the same fit, but the Speed is more about being sleek and lightweight. We wanted to give Kyrie that ‘low-to-the-ground’ feel, which is crucial for his style of play," Franklin said. "Responsive but with just enough cushioning to maintain ground feel."

This evolution had its challenges. Franklin recalled moments during the design process when adjustments had to be made on the fly. "We ran into issues like the TPU being too stiff on Kyrie's foot, so we had to change that to a softer material. It's not something that's visually noticeable, but it makes a huge difference in performance."

The Future of Kyrie’s ANTA Line

Looking ahead, the future of Kyrie’s partnership with ANTA is brighter than ever. The duo previewed an extensive product range in China, from new Kai 1 and Kai 1 Speed colorways to performance runners and skate-inspired shoes. As for the Kai 1 Speed, Franklin hinted that fans could expect even more intimate stories woven into future releases, including a colorway inspired by Kyrie and Dred’s one-on-one battles growing up. As of this writing, the next pair to release will be the Tribe colorway.

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Nicholas Vlahos

Sneakerhead from South Florida who turned his passion into a career. When not writing for Sole Retriever, I enjoy watching films and discovering music. Follow me on Letterboxd @nickvlah For tips, reviews, or any shoes in a size 13, email nick@soleretriever.com