There has been a recent trend in the clothing and fashion industry to be more cognisant of its carbon footprint and ecosystem involving the ecosystem. As such, more and more brands have turned to reduce their footprint by recycling materials, most often ocean plastics, in order to manufacture some of its next-generation products. Following on from the successful launch of the React Infinity Run towards the end of 2019, Nike kicks off 2020 with a bang with the release of the Space Hippie sneaker.
The Space Hippie is an exploratory footwear collection, which is constructed with Nike’s own ‘space junk.’ The materials are a collection of scrap from factory floors that has been transformed into a radical expression of circular design. The collection comprises of four silhouettes, each of which features great detail, from the materials right down to the composition of the packaging, considerations based on its environmental impact. Nike has taken up the mantle addressing the urgency of climate change, reimagining various solutions to critical environmental issues. The end result is the Space Hippie, a silhouette with the lowest carbon footprint for the company.
While the sneaker may be developed with a purpose in mind, that doesn’t take away from staying true to Nike’s design legacy. The silhouette presents new ideas to deal with waste and turning trash into a beautiful and responsible design. Each of the four sneakers from the Space Hippie range features a unique fit option – traditional laces, lace-less and Flyease – for an on-the-go lifestyle of athletes. The Flyknit yarns featured on the upper is made from at least 85% rPoly recycled plastic water bottles, t-shirts and yarn scraps. The midsole is made from Crater Foam, which uses 15% Nike Grind rubber combined with 100% recycled foam materials. While sustainable, it is still a lightweight and responsive creation.
The Nike Space Hippie collection will be available this in Autumn for Nike members in SNKRS and SNEAKERS, as well as at Nike House of Innovation flagship locations and select retailers.
