Nike has a history of beating all other brands when it comes to innovation and inspiration by simply hearing the voices of their athletes. We hear all about the relationship between Kevin Durant and Nike’s signature sneaker designer, Leo Chang. This time, the inspiration comes from and unlikely place. Their mission statement, “If you have a body, you are an athlete,” embodies the inspiration behind this unexpected project. The Nike LeBron Soldier 8 brings to life what Nike is calling the FLYEASE technology, an easy-entry footwear system designed by Tobie Hatfield. The first Flyease sneaker will not merely be a player exclusive for someone with a disability, but this groundbreaking shoe will be the first readily-available Nike shoe accessible through back-strap construction. This project came to life from Matthew Walzer and his letter to Nike CEO Mark Parker.
Walzer is a high school junior who is looking forward to eventually going to college. However, Walzer has battled a movement disorder called Cerebral Palsy his whole life and has significant anxiety when it comes to relying on others to put on his shoes. That’s where this project was born. Walzer wrote a letter to Parker that made way for a three-year collaborative project between Tobie and Matthew. What resulted is the creation of the Nike LeBron Soldier 8 Flyease which does away with the usual lacing system and allows for Matthew to slip into a sneaker with proper ankle support that a Nike Basketball model offers. Today, Matthew Walzer will be able to go to the school of his choice and the Flyease journey will continue to enable athletes everywhere.
The collaboration will reach others who are disabled as the sneaker is set to release at select Nike retailers on July 16. Check out the full video to find out more about the sneaker’s story below and stay tuned for release updates.
Images via Nike
This is pretty cool to make a shoe like this more easily accessible.
How did you get an avatar?
It has something to do with the website that they use to add comments. I created an account with that site and uploaded a pic so now when I use this email account, the picture shows up. I can’t remember the instructions but they used to be posted on here somewhere. Try using the search and typing “avatar” or something along those lines. Sorry that I couldn’t be more help but I did it a while back.
I just searched for it and yeah, just type “Avatar” in the search bar to the top right of the page and it’s the only result that comes up.
Thanks!
Go to Gravitar.com and you can get one.
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This is pretty damn dope. It’s kind of a “no-brainer” and I’m somewhat surprised that this hasn’t come along sooner. But hey, better late than never.
Those zip-up Soldiers’ colorway is dooooooope though.
That’s very thoughtful of Nike. The shoes look dope. I hope Adidas and UA follows soon.
I just found an article on Facebook about the new Nike FlyEase Soldier 8 shoes and how they were developed for a boy athelete who also had disabilities that needed help getting his shoes on.
I am no athlete, I am no professional, I am no Olympiad. But I am a 47-year-old mother who was diagnosed with MS in 1997. Not until 2011 did I start having problems with my legs. Specifically in my right leg and on my whole entire right side I am very weak and in my foot I have a condition called foot drop. This all contributes my ability to walk but one of the main obstacles is that my right foot is constantly turning over and spraining badly on a regular basis. I have been looking for some sort of shoe that would offer support, that was easy to get on (no laces), that would not look like an orthopedic shoe or something from the ‘comfort’ de partment that your grandmother would wear.
I do physical therapy, yoga and aquatic therapy to try to build up all of my muscles that have not been affected neurologically in my body. But I’m still plagued by this right ankle that continues to turn over and swell and hurt and prevents me from trying to get ahead in strengthening my legs, feet, and ankles.
I would be so grateful to know where the FlyEase will be sold so that I might be able to get a pair to help me walk more easily and I would not continue to injure myself!
Again, I am no star athlete but I do believe your product is exactly what I’ve been looking for as I struggle every morning to get dressed and to get shoes on.
I want so badly and I am so desperate to find solutions to the problems that my MS has handed to me. I know that no shoe will be a cure but it will certainly help me to walk with support and the self-confidence that I need to be able to fight this disease and the disabilities that it hands to me!
Please don’t forget that it’s not just young boys and superstar athletes lthat ove your shoes and want to look just as awesome as those who we admire for their incredible abilities!
Just recently I was in the grocery store and passed by a young mother with her son in the cart. I smiled at him and told him that I really liked his just recently I was in the grocery store and passed by a young mother with her son in the cart. I smiled at him and told him that I really like tissues shoes. even at three years old he promptly responded to me , “They’re LeBrons”!
Most importantly I won’t support from my ankle and to be able to put on a shoe that would help with that easily and without asking for help. But also I would love to tell people, ” They’re LeBron’s”!
Lead me to your store and I will drive as far as I have to to get what I need!
Thank you so much to your designers for recognizing the need has been a long time coming!
Thank you!
Louisa Taylor
Greensboro, North Carolina
My sister is going to LOVE these. Hard to get in the UK though 🙁