WNBA athlete Elena Delle Donne introduces her inaugural signature shoe design made alongside Nike -- launching the new Air Deldon silhouette and spotlighting the brand's Flyease system. This allows for easy entry to the shoe and it stems from the angle of Delle Donne wanting to design an inclusive shoe.
She wanted to create a sneaker that was easy to put on despite any physical inhibitions. Her sister Lizzie was born with autism and cerebral palsy, who serves as a key inspiration to her and the accessibility of the design. The sneaker is also packed with the Air Strobel unit that rests across the entire foot bed to ensure responsiveness and comfort over long periods of time.
Image Credit: Nike
What's Driving This Trend
- Collaborative Athlete Shoes
- An opportunity for brands to co-create inclusive and comfortable footwear with prominent athletes
- Flyease System Integration
- An opportunity to implement Nike's Flyease technology to other shoe designs for more accessibility
- Inclusive Design Focus
- An opportunity for companies to prioritize the design of footwear that accommodates all people, including those with physical limitations
Who This Affects Most
- Sportswear
- An industry that can leverage athlete collaborations to create innovative and diverse footwear collections
- Assistive Technology
- An industry that can implement Nike's Flyease technology to develop more inclusive and accessible products for people with disabilities
- Healthcare
- An industry that can benefit from inclusive design in footwear for patients with physical disabilities
