In recent years, the biggest knock on Nike from analysts and consumers alike has been the company’s lack of innovation.
Detractors of the Swoosh argue that the brand has become overly reliant on its past successes, leaning too heavily on its popular retro business with franchises like Air Jordan, Air Force 1 and Air Max. But that’s not to say that Nike hasn’t made an effort to correct this, with recent hits like the Vomero Plus and Mind line showing promise. And there’s yet another pair in the pipeline that has fans buzzing ahead of its official launch.
Related Stories
First revealed in March as part of Nike’s new First Sight women’s collection, the upcoming First Sight Shadow is a futuristic new sneaker which takes some distinct design cues from past legacy models. Most noticeably, the First Sight Shadow borrows from the wavy shapes of the brand’s Foamposite franchise. Described by Nike as a slip-on silhouette which borrows from 2000s-era basketball shoes, the brand says the First Sight Shadow is intended to “juxtapose the fierce energy of today’s top women’s hoopers with their femininity away from the game.”
You May Also Like
The First Sight Shadow builds on the molded shaping of the Foamposite with circular lines throughout the upper, textile cutouts and what can only be described as an alien-like pod filled with iridescent dots. And while it looks to be positioned as a primarily off-court lifestyle sneaker, the bottom of the shoe is all ball with a grippy bespoke traction pattern.
“These shoes were truly made from scratch, with our designers gathering insights from around the world to create new art forms that speak to today’s female athlete. Each silhouette is inspired by sport, infused with Nike-only energy, and crafted for women who want to push the boundaries of self-expression,” Thomasin Hummerstone, senior director of energy footwear at Nike, said of the First Sight collection.
First introduced in 1997, the molded polyurethane Foamposite line continues to inform some of Nike’s most innovative and popular footwear. Last year, the ahead-of-its-time technology further evolved with the introduction of the G.T. Future basketball sneakers.
The Nike First Sight Shadow SP will be released later this year exclusively in women’s sizing with an expected retail price of $145. The style code for the black colorway pictured here is HQ2410-001.