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In a white room that exudes the sterile feel of a scientific laboratory, four pairs of Gucci sneakers are running in place, affixed to what looks like an automated stair climber the size of an office printer. There are no feet inside. The shoes, some bearing the signature GG logo, are being put to the durability test, simulating how they will withstand long-term wear-and-tear and what state they’ll be in once they’ve “run” a certain number of kilometres.
