The running game

Kobe Bryant is an athlete who takes the game of basketball into a whole new territory. Kobe, who approaches the game with an analytical eye, is constantly evolving and always looking to improve his performance. And Eric Avar, Nike’s footwear design creative director, knows that as Kobe’s game evolves, so should his footwear. That’s why Nike came up with the Kobe IV, which is designed for Kobe’s unstoppable quickness and lethal cutting on the court.

Avar has worked with Kobe since he first partnered with Nike, so he understands Kobe’s methodical approach to the game. Working with the Nike Sports Research Lab (NSRL), Avar reviewed high-speed videos of Kobe’s cutting. His cutting was so low that the high top of his shoe buckled and bit into his ankle. Eric presented both the NSRL research and examples of different generations of footwear to Kobe. Kobe’s response was to push the design as far as possible and to create a shoe that went even lower. After all, who said a basketball shoe had to be a high-top?

Kobe views his footwear as an extension of his body, so, ideally, it should work with him. Avar engineered the upper panel with Nike’s revolutionary lightweight support system known as Flywire, a performance architecture that uses very thin and incredibly strong nylon fibers to support the foot. Flywire support system has allowed Nike designers to create some of the lightest footwear to date while actually improving stability in the shoe.

Avar understands the realms of aesthetics and functionality and the intersection of beauty and art. While the Kobe IV is an evolution of two of Nike’s most recent revolutionary innovations Flywire and Lunarlite foam, it is also purely about performance, but with a classic aesthetic. Sleek and aggressive-looking, the overall design of the Kobe IV works as an integrated system.

Air Apparent

Classic Nike running products make up the Bowerman product line. Designed specifically around the needs of dedicated everyday runners, these shoes are engineered to enhance performance with the minimum weight possible. Runners remain faithful to the line because of its consistent premium product. Knowing this, footwear designer Sebastien Mermet designed the men’s Air Span+ 6. A Bowerman franchise shoe, the Air Span+ 6 has been reissued with a new edge for the runner who’s both looking to control overpronation and seeking high-end comfort and cushioning in a lightweight package.

For the shoe’s upper panel, Mermet represented the idea of speed with simple, sleek and sharp lines. Constructed using minimal overlays and breathable mesh, the upper is enhanced with Flywire technology. By engineering the upper with Flywire technology, Nike’s revolutionary lightweight support system, and a performance architecture that uses very thin but incredibly strong fibers to support the foot, Mermet was able to create a lightweight shoe while actually improving stability. 

Zooming In

At Nike inspiration comes from “climbing inside the mind of the athlete.” Sometimes that athlete is the designer themselves and the inspiration comes from the designer’s own athletic needs. While preparing to run the Hood2Coast relay race, footwear designer Mermet was inspired to create the ultimate running shoe. He ended up creating a shoe that appealed not just to him, but to others. The Nike Zoom Start+ 2009 is the running shoe for the emerging runner looking for comfort and a unique fit and feel.

A running shoe should have everything — cushioning, stability and lightweight performance. And when Mermet approached the design of the Nike Zoom Start+ 2009, he made sure he had it all. 

For the upper panel, Mermet reduced forefoot overlays and added support only where it was needed. Mermet also integrated Flywire technology into the mid-foot panel.

Open mesh and seamless construction in the forefoot provide unsurpassed comfort while increasing the shoe’s breathability. A full-length Cushlon mid-sole with Nike Zoom cushioning gives a soft and comfortable ride.

These latest models are available at Nike stores in leading malls nationwide.