March 13, 2020 – The Nike Mercurial Vapor “Future DNA Mercurial” brings classic Nike Football design to one of the brand’s latest on-pitch innovations.

Originally released in 2009, the Nike Mercurial Vapor Superfly was the lightest, fastest iteration of the Nike Mercurial at the time, and served as a glimpse into the future of Nike football boots. For the first time on a boot, the original Nike Mercurial Vapor Superfly incorporated next-generation Nike Flywire technology in a streamlined upper. The purpose of the filament and fiber technology was to serve as a second skin, and offer a lightweight, stronger, more dynamic fit. It also housed a carbon fiber sole plate that reacted to the need for speed with strategically-configured blades for superior footing and quick cuts in any direction.

Paying tribute to its predecessor’s Max Orange and Metallic Silver colorway — debuting only on the pitch by the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo — the Nike Mercurial Vapor “Future DNA Mercurial” sees modern upgrades on a classically fast boot with the addition of high-tenacity yarns on the upper (an elevated version of the Nike Flywire technology used on the original), which keeps the boot from stretching. The 2020 iteration also has All Conditions Control to prevent the boot from being porous.

The boot is the second release from Nike Football’s Future DNA Pack, in which current performance boots pay homage to a classic Nike Football design. 

The Nike Mercurial Vapor “Future DNA Mercurial” is available March 13 on nike.com. 

March 12, 2020 – The first Women’s Jordan OG collaboration with LA-based designer Melody Ehsani is rooted in bringing basketball to a new generation.

“The legacy [of the Women’s Air Jordan OG] speaks for itself,” says Ehsani. “It was an exciting time in history with the inception of the WNBA and all the incredible women who were coming into the game. The shoe is really an emblem of this moment, a first in many regards.”

Symbolizing women’s excellence on and off the court, the designer chose an updated approach to the Air Jordan OG SP x Melody Ehsani, and through a classic lens. The black and infrared shoe is highlighted by a cherry detailing — a symbol of abundance and closely associated with the goddess of fertility.

The Women’s Air Jordan OG SP x Melody Ehsani is available March 14 at the Melody Ehsani stores in Los Angeles and New York City. The shoe will be available March 19 on Jordan.com and at select retailers.

March 09, 2020 – If Undefeated’s initial Nike Air Max 90 paid direct 1990s-homage, the second effort from the LA-based outfit delivers a sneaker design version of a retro futurist approach. 

Rugged leather from edition one is replaced by myriad materials referencing the ’90s New York street scene’s adoption of technical outdoor gear. In respect for the function-first origins of those practical pieces, the shoe itself is striped down and the silhouette’s features deftly reinterpreted for 2020. 

Approach to the design began first with  fabrication, trying to mix iconic sneaker fabrics, such as nubuck leather and hairy suede, with translucent materials and technical mesh to give a modern vibe to a classic silhouette.

This approach lead to some restructuring of the shoe’s paneling to both reduce material and streamline the upper pattern. The Swoosh is thus elongated and the typical rubber “Air Max” marker above the Air-unit window is removed. Padding in the tongue and heel is also minimized, adding to the sleeker form. Additional details include a heel pull tab and tongue lacing reminiscent of the Nike Vomero 5. 

The colorways are a study in contrast — a concise, all-black look highlighting the depth and texture of the build, and a blue Undefeated exclusive, honoring past Nike ACG and Running footwear and apparel.

The Undefeated exclusive colorway was inspired by the colors and hues that came out of the golden era of running shoes — the late ’80s and early ’90s — and the pop colors of outdoor sneakers that were making noise from ’92 to ’95 in NYC.

The black Undefeated Nike Air Max 90 launches March 14 at Undefeated stores, followed by a second release March 19 on SNKRS. The Undefeated exclusive blue colorway retails on Air Max Day, March 26. 

To download hi-res images, click here. 

March 06, 2020 – The ethos is now well established: ISPA uses NIKE, Inc.’s robust portfolio of innovations to solve for the challenges of city life. These challenges are as varied as the human-made environment, and in the case of the Nike ISPA Air Max 720, the design decisions serve to stabilize Nike’s tallest Air unit and safeguard it from bumps and bruises. 

What bumps and bruises? Think jostling for space on a metro train, stretching out to keep a door from shutting or bouncing through a rave. The challenges of city life are nuanced and, often, discrete. A solid Air Max can help keep one comfortable through it all. 

And, as Air Max is to the dance hall what an Oxford shirt is to American prep schools, the ISPA Air Max 720 incorporates a heel tab fastener that functions like a classic locker tab so that the shoes can be hung in glory after a night out. 

Elements for the shoe are drawn from the Nike React 87 (those should be familiar) and when applied to the Air Max unit serve to guide the bags’ displacement for a firmer ride. On the upper, tight mesh cutouts offer breathability (again, the Air Max is to the dance hall…).

The shoe offers sophisticated solutions to a few unique, everyday problems, while managing to look awesomely futuristic.

The chrome colorway launches March 13.

To download hi-res images, click here.

March 05, 2020 – The Nike Phantom VSN 2 Future DNA Hypervenom brings classic Nike Football design to one of the brand’s latest on-pitch innovations.

Originally released in 2013, the Hypervenom was dropped in an iconic orange and black colorway with a skull and crossbones graphic to signal an attacking on-pitch style to defenders. The Phantom VSN 2 Future DNA Hypervenom channels the spirit of its predecessor with throwback colorways and is updated with texture placed exactly where control is needed — on the instep for trapping, and along the outside of the foot for creative dribbling and flicking passes. 

Additional modern updates on this classic boot include a flexible mesh layer inside the cleat that adjusts perfectly to your foot and stays snug, while the hidden lacing system tightens easily and evenly with one pull, then stays tucked away.

The boot is the debut release from Nike Football’s Future DNA series, in which Nike’s current performance boots each pay homage to a classic Nike Football design. 

The Nike Phantom VSN 2 Future DNA Hypervenom is available today on nike.com. 

February 21, 2020 – Three decades on, and the Air Tech Challenge II still issues goosebumps to tennis and sneaker fans alike. Synonymous with the rebellious spirit of its most famous wearer, Andre Agassi, the shoe defined ’90s attitude on the court and introduced both an iconic tooling and an unmistakable upper pattern. The latter characterizes NikeCourt’s revival of the Tech Challenge — a new, Max-Air-equipped court shoe highlighted by those familiar vibrant graphics. 

A modified herringbone pattern provides the NikeCourt Tech Challenge 20 excellent traction. The aforementioned Max Air unit offers cushioning in the heel and helps create a smooth heel-to-toe transition. The medial side of the Air unit is hidden — helping to provide durability during slides — and ankle support is augmented by an asymmetrical collar. 

As in the original Air Tech Challenge II, the classic “Nike Air” logo appears on the heel. 

The NikeCourt Tech Challenge 20 releases February 26 for Nike Members and will be available February 29 on nike.com and through select retailers. 

To download hi-res images, click here.

February 19, 2020 – Everything about the second iteration of the Mercurial Dream Speed evokes its namesake. From the transition of colors representing the various frequencies of light (and their corresponding speed) to the numbers highlighted on the outlined Nike Swoosh (299,792,458 meters per second — or the speed of light), speed is the name of the game for the Mercurial Dream Speed 2.

The Nike Mercurial Dream Speed 2 drops February 20 on nike.com and will be debuted on pitch by Sam Kerr, Kylian Mbappé and Cristiano Ronaldo.

February 17, 2020 – Remake the timeless Air Max 90 with a new Nike By You color palette inspired by ’90s-era print- and pattern-laden, crinkle-nylon apparel found in the Department of Nike Archives. In addition to upper graphics and speckled midsoles, translucent ’90s-era print outsole options and an Air Max logo are available to personalize.

The latest Nike By You offering drops February 24 on nike.com.

February 17, 2020 – Celebrating 30 years of the Air Max 90, Nike’s latest Air Max Pack ensures effervescence is in the air. The Air Max Bubble Pack derives its inspiration from bubble wrap — a play on Nike Air — employing a layered air bubble aesthetic for an iridescent effect. 

The latest Air Max offering drops February 29 on nike.com.

February 14, 2020 – The colorway of the Nike Adapt BB 2.0 was debuted by Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant February 14 during 2020 NBA Rising Stars. As a Gamer Exclusive, the shoe will feature virtually inside NBA 2K20 and will unlock for physical purchase within the game in the coming weeks.

To download hi-res images, click here.