Originally posted on Housakicks
I really don’t know how much of the Edit To Amplify Nike is actually implementing; for those who are new to the phrase , please read the post below for more information.
The brand’s goal is to do away with products that do not work; Nike CEO Mark Price said in an interview that the last thing the brand wanted to do was to slap their logo on a pair of shoes and assume it’s going to sell. I have no problem with upgrading a product but I’m not sure how adding a zipper on a pair of Nike Air Huarache is an upgrade. I think this project stems from the Virgin Abloh’s The Ten collection. The collection did well due to its scarcity but in my opinion it lacked in creativity and was very silly, especially the ridiculous zip tie on the shoes. I don’t think these zippered Air Huarache came out of nowhere, there is a strong correlation though not provable with the Virgin Abloh’s pack. And it makes perfect sense for Nike to come up with a Frankenstein project like this, seeing how gullible and pea-brained consumers can be at times. Nike is all about performance so I really don’t see the functional aspect of a Zipper on a pair of Air Huarache. Please don’t ruin another classic.
img via sneakerjamz
I wouldn’t have guessed Virgil Abloh at all on these. Nike has countless “classics” like the Nike Blazer, as one small example where they have been adding a zipper to them way before the Off White collab. These to me were just a natural progression of what was next, the Huarache and these are actually not the first.
Nike Air Huarache Run Mid (WMNS), released in the fall of 2016 I believe it was, has a zipper. The model didn’t do well.
Even if none of this were true, ACRNYM is the original zipper don on Nike collabs and if anything I would guess Errolson Hugh long before Virgil Abloh when/if I see a zipper. But again, Nike and zippers on yet more models is to be expected by now.
In terms of function and design aesthetic, a zipper and Tiempo like pattern on the toe box of a huarache is a horrible idea and not for any other reason or opinion.
Great point; as soon as I saw the zipper and the little tab all i thought about was V. Abloh. I appreciate you taking the time to go in details with these topics. I’m actually learning a lot more from your input.
Thanks again