Throughout its 58-year-history, NIKE, Inc. has been obsessed with innovation. Although the Oregon-based conglomerate has ventured beyond the boundaries of performance for footwear and apparel, the company has also experimented with colors, manufacturing processes, marketing and other efforts.
NIKE, Inc. has had its fair share of scandals over the last handful of decades, but the sportswear institution has gone back to the drawing board on countless occasions to asses how it can do better. One such area in which the Swoosh empire has focused over the last few years is sustainability. Well-before recycled and eco-conscious footwear became an industry-wide focus, Nike explored ways to deliver product that required less non-virgin materials and carbon-production without sacrificing performance, resulting in innovative designs like the Air Woven (2000). The company has also used materials like cork across footwear, further experimenting with what’s possible.
The last two years have seen the Swoosh boldly bet on “Next Nature,” an initiative that sees at least 20% up-cycled construction across a range of Nike Sportswear designs, most famously the Nike Dunk Low. While only making up a portion of the NIKE, Inc. empire’s output of product, Next Nature is just one arm of the conglomerate-wide “Move to Zero” initiative that went into effect in 2019. Projects like the Nike Space Hippie collection were born out of the goal of becoming carbon neutral, with the all-new Nike Forward program joining the fight.
While exclusive to apparel, Nike Forward may lead the charge for updates to the brand’s footwear manufacturing procedures like Flyknit. Akin to some of the most recent Nike ISPA offerings, the latest sustainability-focused effort is rooted in future circularity. Zippers, aglets and extra trims are omitted on the first items produced via the Nike Forward platform – grey sweatshirts – to enable an easier recycling process for garments. Knits and wovens created through this platform significantly reduce their carbon footprint by an average of 75% when compared to knit fleece traditionally used by the Swoosh.
“This is the biggest Nike apparel innovation since Dri-Fit 30 years ago,” said Aaron Heiser, VP Global Apparel Product Merchandising, NIKE, Inc. in an official Nike News post. “[Nike Forward] has huge potential to transform the industry in the way that Air and Flyknit did for Nike footwear.”
The debut Nike Forward duo releases globally on Thursday, September 15th. Pricing and launch times are yet to be disclosed on Nike.com.
For more swoosh-branded items, check out the latest Air Jordan 1 releases.
