We see a close-up shot of a bead of sweat and the look of determination in their eyes. The inspirational music swells, rain is pouring down, and we witness the natural beauty and raw talent…
The post Nike’s Latest Ad Says It’s Ok to Suck at Sports first appeared on Cool Material.
It’s hard to imagine a Boston Red Sox uniform without, well, the color red. But Nike is going all out in terms of originality with its “City Connect” special-edition uniforms for Major League Baseball. Boston’s,…
The post Nike Boston Red Sox “City Connect” Uniforms first appeared on Cool Material.
25 years ago, in 1995, Michael Jordan debuted the Air Jordan XI after returning to the court from his first retirement. Two-and-a-half decades later, Nike is celebrating that return to form with a pair of…
It’s not uncommon to find pairs of old Nike shoes in online auctions, but it takes a particularly special pair to get Sotheby’s to create an auction just for them. Enter Bill Bowerman’s Handcrafted Waffle…
It’s the time of year when designers, brands and retailers begin to stock their digital shelves with new-season goods. For us, that means a rolodex of open browser tabs and auto-fill credit card info. From the new school of prep, to innovative techwear to the basics we’ll leave the office for, these are our favorite style releases of the week.
Big plaid makes for a big western shirt.
I literally left my desk in the middle of writing this piece to go uptown and buy this exact Christoph Lemaire-designed sweatshirt. You know, for research. My findings are that it’s great and I have no regrets.
Vans’ latest spring drop of sneakers is wild and includes psychedelic colorways, checkerboard monk straps and a shoe in the middle of evolving into another shoe.
Adsum’s brand of pared-back sportswear is deep in the closets of the creative set. This 3/4 Zip was clearly a good one — it’s already sold out.
The masterful denim duo behind Ooe Yofukuten turned their expertise toward a lineup of vintage-inspired bags. Turns out their jeans making skills translate very well to bags.
But who needs bags to carry your stuff when you’ve got pants like this?
New York outfit Aime Leon Dore just dropped the lookbook for its spring collection. I’ll likely leave my desk to “research” the collection as well.
Our Legacy’s box shirt is reincarnated every season in very different fabrics. This time, it’s reached enlightenment.
SoCal by way of Texas by way of Ralph Lauren store RTH makes a compelling case for animal print belts. And yes, we are compelled.
Nike teamed up with New York artist Tom Sachs to for a space-inspired collaboration that features the return of their 2018 collaboration of down-filled shorts and a space helmet-inspired beanie.
East meets West with Studio D’artisan’s take on a classic Wrangler jacket, swapping out the usual denim for hardy indigo-dyed sashiko.
Thom Browne constantly pushes fashion’s envelope. Now he’s pushing (and folding) its buttons.
Everlane goes toe-to-toe with basketball shoe competitors, equipped with full-grain leather and a low carbon footprint.
Italian techwear brand Stone Island focuses its innovative eyes with glass. Literally. Its latest jacket and shorts combo uses thousands of tiny glass beads to achieve an effect that’s simultaneously iridescent and dusty.
It’s bright out. And you’re not a sunglasses guy. And you also don’t want to mess up your hair. Plus, you like Patagonia.
Sorry I’m not home right now. I’m dressing into spiderwebs.
A new scent for the new season.
Unless you’re a celebrity, keep the ice chill.
When you can’t decide on a pattern but you can only buy one Kapital jacket.
Supreme just dropped the details on this year’s Spring / Summer collection. While there’s the usual amount of ridiculous–Leica binoculars, Swaroski crystal belts, MAC tool chests and the like–most of the collection is actually wearable.…
Whether you’re talking celebrity and athlete collaborations, material innovations or the classics, some of–most of–the best sneakers of all time have come bearing the Nike swoosh logo. As much as we’d all like to give…
The brand Comme des Garcons might be most well-known for their ability to put their heart with eyes logos on just about everything, but the brand has also done quite a few collabs of note…
There’s no denying the fact that some of the most rare, sought after and stylish sneakers that have ever been made have had the Nike Swoosh on the side. None of the Jordans, Kobes, and…
Well, it’s official — even if it’s unofficial. With the help of a flat, optimized course, a crew of elite pacers and Maurten supplementation, Eliud Kipchoge did what was once considered impossible over the weekend: run a marathon in under two hours. Though it’s not an actual world record (thanks to the aforementioned factors), it’s still an incredible feat, one that’s left many people asking about one other key ingredient: Was it the shoes??
Ah yes, the shoes. Tackling this challenge in Vienna, Austria, Kipchoge — the current marathon world record holder and 2016 Olympic champ — laced up a pair of as-yet-unreleased Nike Next% running sneakers. While the brand continues to play it a bit close to the vest, thanks to some investigative work by Believe in the Run, we do know a few things about these mystical shoes.
The blog uncovered a filing with the US Patent and Trademark Office that reveals the specifics of what may be this particular shoe, which may be called the alphaFLY. Short takeaway: this thing is funky, flexy and fast. What follows are some of the highlights.
The sole consists of four cushioning pods, two layers of midsole foam and (wait for it) three carbon-fiber plates. That’s two more than any other shoe, and now we can’t help thinking of the Schick/Gillette razor race of yesteryear, when they just kept adding blades, to the point where an Onion article started as a joke and became reality.
The midsole has four different levels, and it’s fully segmented between the heel and forefoot, with the rear section looking comically beefy but not all that different from past Vaporfly shoes. Meanwhile, the forefoot really showcases the plates and cushioning pods, which are either filled with fluid or foam.
The plates and pods team up to prevent hotspots, nurture a more responsive ride and add extra stability, theorizes Believe in the Run’s Robbe Reddinger, who adds that there must be some energy return involved as well, considering what Kipchoge was able to accomplish.
The lightweight, meshlike upper appears consistent with material seen on track spikes at the recent World Championships in Doha, so it’s likely Nike strongly believes in this approach and that we will see it on a variety of shoes in the future.
Time will tell if consumers will be able to purchase these exact shoes or some sort of modified version. Meantime, the next best thing is the Nike ZoomX Vaporfly NEXT% ($250), a pretty kickass shoe in its own right.
• Save 74% on These Cole Haan Leather Weekend Bags
• Save 50% on This Affordable Automatic Pilot’s Watch
• Save $88 on Bonavita’s Elite Drip Coffee Brewer
• Save $70 on Master & Dynamic’s Wireless Earphones
• Save $69 on Patagonia’s Best Light Down Jacket
• Save $58 on These Military-Grade M-65 Jackets
• Save $50 on the Patagonia Nano Puff Jacket
• Save $20 on Adidas Originals Stan Smith Sneakers
Deals Last Updated: 10/14/19
The Nike Air Max 1 Sketch to Shelf comes out this July 20 for $269. That’s a hefty purchase, but for good reason. If you’re a sneakerhead, chances are you know who Tinker Hatfield is. The designer has created some of the most iconic Nike sneakers of all time. However, it’s the Air Max 1, in its original University Red colorway, that’s perhaps the most iconic of all.
This variant started the entire Air Max 1 line, which to this day remains one of Nike’s most popular series. Nike is honoring Hatfield and the Air Max 1’s origins by releasing an iteration. One that’s literary taken from sketch then brought to life.
The sneaker arrives in this University Red colorway as an homage to the original Air Max 1. However, it comes scribbled in this raw sketch design gimmick that makes the pair look like a sample unit. You can look at this in two ways. Firstly, it looks rather rudimentary and unfinished. However, this sensibility gives it a homespun feeling. The “unfinished” splashes of red and grey on the uppers lend to a look of sublime in its rawest form. Add to that handwritten details highlighting each component and you got yourself a pair of barebones-chic kicks.
Make no mistake — this is a collector’s item. It’s hard to imagine masses flocking for this variant given its highly unusual design. If you want it, the online raggle is now open on END Launches until July 20. The price, as mentioned, is set at $269. Check out the link below for more information.
Photos courtesy of Nike
Have you ever experienced this scenario — you see something so incredibly pretty that you want to purchase it. Only when you’re throwing your cash at the screen, you realize suddenly that it’s not even real?
Dang you, concept cars. This time around, it’s not a car but a series of sneakers. By Ukraine-based designer Danya Shulipa, the Nike Aircraft Collection draws inspiration from aviation legends like Air Force 1 Utility.
Shulipa took three of Nike’s most iconic silhouettes, which comprise his made-up collection. The aforementioned Air Force 1 Utility references the Discovery (OV-103), an iconic NASA transport spacecraft. It’s got a black and white color scheme, “Discovery” branding, and a small NASA patch on the shoe’s wing.
The SF Air Force 1, meanwhile, draws from the famous Boeing B-17G, a four-engine bomber that helped carry out missions during the Second World War. It features a khaki upper, Air Force branding, and a pull tag that reads, “Remove Before Flight.”
The last pair in Shulipa’s collection gets its look from the Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird, which boasts a shadowy silhouette. The design is a faithful homage to the sleekness of the supersonic reconnaissance aircraft, complete with a zippered tongue that’s lifted from the Air Max 720.
The Behance page in which the project’s on isn’t in English, but you can try your luck with Google Translate. But even if you can’t understand the language, though, design is universal. And in this case, it’s excellent design, one that crosses language barriers.
Photos courtesy of Danya Shulipa
Frequent Nike collaborator Virgil Abloh is at it again with these new Terra Kiger 5 colorways, of the Nike Zoom and Off-White outfits.
The entire collection, dubbed Athlete in Progress, salutes the unbreakable confidence held by runners. In addition, they take the enduring, impassioned power of marathon runners and form into a silhouette that balances performance and post-run aesthetics.
You’ll find an array of track-oriented running spikes on the bottom of the shoe’s Zoom sole. They make the pair perfect for on and off-road adventures. There are technical lacing anchors here, too. Plus a lightweight upper that provides cloud-like support to make sure you’re unburdened while hightailing across the field.
“I started talking with Nike about this women’s running project last summer and at the time, I was very much inspired by the aesthetic and style of track and field athletes,” said Abloh. “As a result, I invited some of Nike’s elite track and field champions to participate in my SS19 Off-White runway show as the natural forerunner to developing and showcasing the collection.”
If you’re big on Off-White branding, you’re not going to like the detailing work on these kicks. They appear a bit on the lace-tag, secured atop the shoe’s specifically developed tongue. However, this is merely a minor blemish on an otherwise excellent pair of shoes, to be sure. And you’ll be focusing on running, anyway, to care much about that.
Nike is releasing three Terra Kiger 5 colorways. One’s a White, Metallic Silver, Sail, and Safety Orange combo. Another’s an Electric Green, Metallic Silver, and Sail combo. The final one’s a Black, Metallic Silver, White, and Pink Blast combo. The kicks come out June 27.
Photos courtesy of Nike
Nike is collaborating with john Elliott again to produce a new colorway for the Lebron Icon QS. The mid-top silhouette is getting the Triple Black palette this time around. The new iterations comes in Nike’s Quickstrike iteration and emphasizes textures. And also detailing that’s focused on comfort.
Of course, not everybody likes black, more so Triple Black. And this is no match for the Volt variant coming soon. Still, it’s got its own charm to it. Fans might love the more understated look it provides.
The kicks feature black leather and mesh on the upper, with matching laces. Below, you’ll find a translucent green outsole, which is the only splash of color in these sleek kicks. The toe’s got the signature Swoosh branding, but you won’t find Elliott’s decals until you look at the insole. Surprise, surprise: it comes in a dark shade.
“The Icon has become part of my uniform,” says Elliott. “It’s deeply ingrained in the brand, from the way we style our lookbooks, to how we live in Los Angeles.” He adds that this Lebron Icon QS Triple Black version is versatile because the upper makes for a layered look. In layman’s terms, this means it’ll go great with almost any style of socks.
The kicks will hit Elliott’s flagship store in Los Angeles on May 22, 23, and 24 via limited units. They might sell some tie-dyed socks there, too. Then these will drop online on May 25 at Elliott’s website. Check out some more pictures below.
Photos courtesy of Nike
You’ve been a sneakerhead long enough if you know that Nike’s sizes are often inconsistent, varying from one model to the next. Say you’re an 8.5 with Air Max. That might be a 9 with its EQTs. So on, and so forth. Worse yet, other brands lie about shoe sizes, which means the best way to buy a pair of kicks is to actually go to a store and try them out for yourself.
But not everyone has time to do that. To help you look for sneakers that fit online, Nike is going to launch a new measurement tool. Featuring augmented reality, that is. Nike Fit uses computer vision, data science, machine learning, artificial intelligence, and recommendation algorithms to determine the size, shape, and volume of your feet.
The app will nail down your foot size down to the millimeter, too, and it’ll accurately measure each foot individually. Then it’ll suggest the specific size of Nike shoe for the style you want. Nike Fit matches your measurements to the internal volume already known for each of its shoes. It also takes into account purchase data of people with similar feet sizes.
This isn’t a one-time, buzz-generating marketic tactic, either. Nike is pretty confident that Nike Fit is accurate, which is why it’s integrating it into its main app as a primary measurement tool. Nike will be using it at stores as well.
Nike Fit will be rolling out in Nike’s official app in July, but only in the United States. The Swoosh brand has plans to bring the feature to Europe later on, though.
Undercover’s Jun Takahashi is one of the most thrilling designers you should all watch out for. That is if he hasn’t already impressed you with his collaborations with Nike for the past decade. This year’s Undercover collab, pulled from last year, enters 2019 with a more vibrant coat of paint.
Takahashi has retouched the Nike Undercover Daybreak kicks with a touch of modern but still uniquely carrying his signature quirks. You get what appears to be a revised approach to Nike’s 1979 Tailwind sneakers. Key to the modernity is a tiny addition — a speckled, plastic heel piece that gives it ample futurism.
The rest of the sneaker retains its signature traditional nylon upper with suede overlays. Undercover branding slithers along the lateral midsole and tongue tag. Nike and Takahashi always manage to steal the spotlight wherever they hitch up and do something together. Don’t consider this one an exception.
The kicks are part of the Swoosh brand and Takahashi’s Spring/Summer 2019 Paris runway show, and they’ll finally hit stores this summer. Nike will offer them in three colorways, as well. Personally, we enjoy Takahashi’s riff on the utilitarian stereotype, deconstructing it so as to surface the rambunctious over the tried and tested. That explains the traditional styling that slowly evolves into an aggressive heel element. Truly, it will not to everyone’s liking. But it’s an attempt with sheer conviction, and what better to demand from art than that?
The Nike Undercover Daybreak kicks start selling all over the globe June 7.
The React Presto is Nike’s latest silhouette, set to launch very, very soon. The speaker blends the Swoosh company’s cutting edge React technology with the refined, iconic design of Presto sneakers.
Fittingly for these ultra colorful kicks, Nike is launching a very tongue-in-cheek marketing campaign that’s reminiscent of the Presto ads that catapulted the sneaker to mainstream fame. But that was back in 2000, this is now. As such, Nike knew better than to rest on its nostalgic laurels alone. Although it’s still super fun to see Nike retooling the old Presto campaign. As such, you’ll find each colorway paired with cartoonish characters not unlike the Animoji populating iPhones. Each are inspired by the new silhouettes colorways, obviously.
There’s “Brutal Honey,” whose accompanying kicks feature heavy use of black and yellow, closely resembling a bumblebee. Then there’s “Rabid Panda,” which takes cues from the adorable little creature, only this time a bit brutal. You’ll either love or hate its white midsole with black detailings and navy upper. That’s also comes with a hint of orange at the outsole for some flair. There’s also “Psychedelic Lava,” which draws inspiration from the lustrous pastel colors of a lava lamp.
Each variant comes with a Presto-inspired plastic lace cage, as well. And of course, who can forget that super comfortable React outsole? With an inner bootie for a flexible fit, to boot.
Nike will launch Brutal Honey and Rabid Panda on May 9. There’ll also be Nike by You variations that will roll out, so make sure to watch out for that.
Photos courtesy of Nike
In 2015, Nike began work on a design challenge focused on transforming apparel. Nike’s senior design director for apparel special projects, Jarrett Reynolds, was intrigued by the idea of a slimline pack with a quick-deploy…
Yup, still with the percentage sign on the name. It’s really called the ZoomX Vaporfly Next%, but that’s where the blemishes stop. When you get over that odd moniker, there’s just so much to admire in Nike’s new trainers.
To make this marathon-ready pair, Nike sought feedback from its cache of world champion runners. And thus comes the new ZoomX Vaporfly Next%, an evolution from the brand’s Vaporfly 4%. Featuring Vaporweave, a new material construction that’s lighter than flyknit, these shoes are a lot more breathable and absorb less water from sweat or rain.
The ZoomX Vaporfly Next% marathon shoes also feature offset laces to reduce pressure on sensitive areas of the foot. Nike added extra Zoomx foam in the midsole, plus custom traction patterns for increased grip in wet weather. Nike listened well — traction improvements came from data by Eliud Kipchoge, Mo Farah, and Geoffrey Kirui.
Even with all these new upgrades, the pair weighs exactly the same as its predecessor. This should perhaps come as no surprise, as Nike always excels when it comes to streamlining design to cut bulk and fat.
“This shoe is truly the result of our athletes, sport scientists, engineers and designers closely collaborating throughout the entire process of design, testing and manufacturing,” says Nike.
The company is set to debut these kicks during the forthcoming London Marathon. It has also prepared a special release for those who really want a pair. Nike will offer limited quantities of the ZoomX Vaporfly Next% via the Nike Run Club App. They’ll cost $275 once released, which surely isn’t cheap even by Nike’s standards. But all evolution comes with a price. You can hit the link below for more information.
Photos courtesy of Nike
If you’re still waiting to update your spring wardrobe, now’s the time. Nike just kicked off an extra 20% off sale that runs until 3/6. All you have to do to capitalize on the sale…
