I promise I’ll hold off on the Nike/footwear posts after this, but the sneakers below are release-of-the-year in my opinion, and I couldn’t not document them.
Twelves years ago, Nike introduced the Air Woven, a creatively constructed shoe with an unusual aesthetic that reigned popularity amongst sneaker heads and enthusiasts alike. Last week, Nike dropped the Free Inneva Woven, a modern take on its predecessor, which attempts to mimic the natural biomechanics of the foot by applying the meticulously developed 360-degree hand-woven system throughout the entire upper. From the speckled Free 5.0 sole to the premium-leather heel unit, waxed laces and embossed NSW branding throughout, it’s clear that Nike took no shortcuts in the production of this 8-hours-to-complete runner.
The hype and popularity surrounding these extremely limited Free’s resulted in them selling out internationally within a matter of hours. Luckily, I was fortunate enough to have the good folks at Off The Hook notify me the second they got these in stock, which earned me the first of twelve pairs they received in-store.
Nike’s been absolutely killing it this year. Between the Mayfly Wovens, Roshe Runs, Inneva Wovens and now the Air Solstice, they really don’t give you much chance to break-in a pair before pulling the trigger on the next.
This timeless sneaker, whose influence derives from the Nike Tailwind, Vortex and Safari, features an all leather-and-suede upper with an incredibly successful and tasteful use of both textures and patterns throughout. The perforated toe, tongue and swoosh for example are all lined with a light-reflective sub-layer, while the predominantly grey silhouette is tied together with a contrasting neon orange ankle collar and a rich, dark tan inner, all of which is placed atop of a air-cushioned sole unit.
This extremely limited Tier Zero release comes in both grey and black. I was lucky enough to get my hands on a pair, as most stockists, if not all, have unfortunately sold out by now.
Though the original Nike Mayfly was intended to be a short-lived runner, these new limited Mayfly Wovens are a casual street-ready take on the shoe with a heightened focus on comfort and design. The 4.8oz silhouette features a uniquely woven suede upper available in either black or granite which sits atop of a lightweight and cushiony Phylite sole, all of which is tied together with the subtle detail of the orange/tan leather heel. If you were thinking about getting yourself a pair, you may be out of luck as they seemed to have sold out quicker than the Yeezy IIs (okay.. maybe not), but keep your eyes peeled as some shops are rumored to receive a small second run.
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