Studying the original Nike Air  Flight Huarache s innovation, insights and exoskeleton fit, plus the Air Force 1 from a classic aesthetic standpoint, the Nike Air Zoom Huarache 2K4 made a statement on its own terms, yet was rooted in earlier masterpieces. Having seen tiny swooshes, reverse swooshes and vast swooshes on recent shoes, Eric was keen to return to Nike s roots. For the 2K4 we were doing a big, old-school quarter panel swoosh to make it loud and proud and bring that back.
A lot can change in four years. As the biggest global stage for sports is set up again in a new location, it s time for the Nike Hyperdunk to make another statement. The landmark innovations of 2008 Nike Flywire and Lunarlon Technology have evolved significantly for basketball use, perfecting the formula for a breathable, responsive, durable, locked-down performance. Now, under the hood, a new technology emerges that will change the way Nike links physical sport to digital services Nike Basketball.
Thursday s look back at 2008 s Zoom Kobe IV was a reminder of how conventional wisdom can shift right under your feet, and today we get a look at a design and really, an entire fabrication process, that was inspired by the unlikeliest of combinations. Shane Kohatsu of Nike s famed Innovation Kitchen noticed that Chinese ballers wore everything from mesh runners to rugged workboots on the nation s rapidly multiplying outdoor asphalt arenas, then went to work on creating a balance of their collective advantages.
What instigates a game-changing innovation? A visit to China by Innovation Kitchen Designer Shane Kohatsu sowed some creative seeds for a new way of looking at sport footwear altogether. Seeing games played on the unforgiving blacktop in China in mesh running shoes and even hiking boots inspired a quest to create a balance of supportive, breathable and anti-abrasion elements that would unlock design entirely. The Nike Zoom Hyperfuse was a definitive solution a durable composite material composed of three layers: a base layer that contains the foot, mesh that offers breathability and a skin that protects.
Nike Basketball s sensational trio of signature athletes has to get some recognition as part of its 20 Year Retrospective, right? Kevin Durant s meteoric rise to superstardom is all substance and no filler an organic humility that designer Leo Chang transferred over to the Nike Zoom KD IV; Chang describes the design of of the KD IV as a shoe that s stripped down to his essence nothing less, nothing more , so as he heard Durant s demands of a shoe that s light and tight , Adaptive Fit was created to the lower-cut build, allowing KD to adjust the tightness to his own liking and essentially making the KD IV an all-positions, all-skill shoe.
Kevin Durant s KD line has to encapsulate his remarkable versatility as well as his humble nature confident without cockiness resulting in designs made for all-around play and a complete range of motion. The Nike Zoom KD IV s lead designer Leo Chang has worked with Durant since the start and sums up this shoe as A shoe that s stripped down to his essence nothing more, nothing less.