UPDATE: The stripped back sock with a sole has landed. Nike's Gakou Flyknit is now sitting on shelves at retailers around the world. If they don't have them at your local then it's probably time you moved house. Alternatively, you can head over to Foot Patrol and have them delivered right to your door.
A new Gakou has risen out of Nike’s quest for lighter, faster footwear. The shoe draws heritage inspiration from designs like the Aqua Sock and Sock Racer and combines them with top-end Flyknit know-how. The design started as an experiment by Nike’s Special Projects team, who liked it so much they decided to leave it as it was and pull the trigger on production. The Free-inspired injection-moulded sole has linear grooves for flexibility, while a suede heel cap adds a touch of class to the rear.
The branding boffins of Beaverton disagreed on where the shoe’s Swoosh should be placed, so they went with a DIY alternative, providing a set of rubber stencils with each pair so you can decide for yourself. It’s nice to see Nike embracing a little punk mentality, kind of. Of course, you can always just leave it blank and enjoy the minimal beauty of the Gakou Flyknit.
The Nike Gakou Flyknit will be available from select stockists and online from August 24.
– Originally published August 16, 2017
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