NIKE VINTAGE RUNNING

NOTICE ANYTHING WEIRD ABOUT THESE BEAUTIFUL SHOES? Take a look.
Now go back and have a closer squizz. They’re some rarified vintage Nikes right? The glue globs, the weird stitching, wonky shapes, the washed out suede and the yellowed midsoles – they have to be at least thirty years old, right?

No Sir, these shoes were made as recently as June this year. What? Why? How? So many questions... what we can tell you is that these particular models were made to star in a catwalk show for enigmatic Japanese clothing designer, Junya Watanabe. Watanabe has had a close relationship with Nike since 1993 (well before any other company), which was handy because he needed these brand new beaters made in just a few weeks.

This involved many a sleepless night as the Nike team revisited the fragile originals and forged exact hand-made replicas, right down to the beautiful visual and structural imperfections that would normally accrue over thirty years of ageing. Technology has moved on of course, so this process involved some lateral retooling, not to mention a re-examination of the very fabric of Nike’s origin as a company for runners. The end result produces a myriad of emotional responses, even more potently for the Nike guys who are still there from day dot.

But what does it all mean? Is there really a deep philosophical motive to making the very old and unattainable, brand new again? We couldn’t say for sure, so we nailed Nike Sports Culture Creative Director Richard Clarke’s foot to the bar in New York til he spilled the beans in this exclusive interview.

Is it really a case of back to the future?



This piece was orginally published in Sneaker Freaker 9. Buy it here.