Nike just released the latest incarnation of its 'FREE' running shoes collection, the Nike Free 2014 series. The collection features three new arrivals to the Nike Free family, the Free 3.0, Free 4.0 and Free 5.0.
The shoes were designed taking into account data from Nike's sports research lab as well as insights from athletes. The end result is Nike's first-ever outsole with hexagonal grooves. This design provides multi-directional flexibility and enables runners' feet to move freely in all directions.
The shoes' heels are anatomically shaped and designed to roll as athletes' feet hit the ground. By mimicking the shape of the foot, this shoe design allows the wearer's feet and the rest of their body to move completely naturally.
Photo Credits: designboom, nike
High Performance Geometric Shoes
The Nike Free 2014 Running Shoes Leave the Competition Trailing
Trend Themes
1. Geometric Running Shoes - Opportunity to design similar shoes with new materials and adapt them to other sports.
2. Multi-directional Flexibility Shoes - Opportunity to integrate this innovative design in other sectors, such as occupational footwear or military footwear.
3. Anatomically Shaped Heels Design - Opportunity to develop different footwear to improve posture and balance for people with mobility problems or disabilities.
Industry Implications
1. Sportswear - This trend reinforces the importance of design and innovation in sportswear, creating new market opportunities that cover all sports disciplines.
2. Fashion - The introduction of sports and technology is a growing trend in the fashion industry, which can similarly incorporate this technology into their designs.
3. Medical - This trend can inspire the creation of new medical shoes that can help people with mobility problems or disabilities, improving their quality of life.