Nike debuts the KD 11 sneakers, marking basketball athlete Kevin Durant's latest collaborative shoe with the label. The sneaker makes its debut in a timely fashion, following Durant's second NBA Championship with the Golden State Warriors recently. Designer Leo Chang created the new look and Chang was also the creative mind behind Durant's previous silhouettes. This time, the KD 11 centers around the concept of comfort, as the model exudes a sock-like aesthetic infused with a lightweight runner.
The sneaker is more than what it seems, Chang explains that it looks to be a simple concept at first, but there is a lot more to be found beyond the surface, such as the Swoosh design drawn from previous models on the medial area. The sneaker comes in two colorway options, entitled 'Paranoid,' a blue tonal shoe and 'Still KD,' which are black and white. The uppers are constructed from a plush Flyknit material and boast cushioning qualities drawn from the technicalities of the Nike React and the Nike Zoom.
Athlete Collaborative Knit Sneakers
Nike Introduces The KD 11 Sneakers in Two New Colorways
Trend Themes
1. Collaborative Athlete Sneakers - There is an opportunity to create more athlete-collaboration sneakers that focus on the concept of comfort.
2. Knit Sneakers - There is an opportunity to create more sneakers that use knit materials to emphasize comfort.
3. Technical Cushioning Sneakers - There is an opportunity to create more sneakers that utilize technical cushioning from Nike React and Nike Zoom.
Industry Implications
1. Footwear Industry - The footwear industry can adopt the concept of collaborative sneakers and knit materials for producing comfortable sneakers.
2. Sport Apparel Industry - The sport apparel industry can utilize the technical cushioning of Nike React and Nike Zoom for creating new product line.
3. Athletic Performance Industry - The athletic performance industry can benefit from more sneakers designs that use comfort and technical cushioning to improve athlete performance.