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Nike ACG—Nike's "urban explorer" lineup of technical, futuristic-leaning clothing—is never not a source for envelope-pushing out-there footwear. The Zoom Sertig '16, released earlier this year, looked like a sneakerboot you might see on The Simpsons (i.e. not in real life).
The newly unveiled NikeLab ACG.07.KMTR shoe easily usurps the the Zoom Sertig '16 the weirdest shoe we've seen all year. It might be the weirdest Nike sneaker we've ever seen. If the shoe you see here is giving you origami vibes, that's because Nike says it was literally inspired by the idea of wrapping a person's foot in a brown paper bag. In their words, "It’s a prime example of how sophisticated solutions can stem from straightforward, functional suggestions." It's also a prime example of how to make some wacky kicks.
Despite the wrapped-up inspiration, there's still a slickness to the KMTR sneaker that aligns with the neo-sport-goth qualities of Errolson Hugh's ACG designs. It delivers on the technical fronts too, featuring a four-way stretch water-resistant upper shell that "conforms to the foot through an integrated draw cord and stabilizes via a forefoot strap equipped with a Fidlock magnetic buckle," Nike said in its press release. In layman's terms, it's a sneaker that takes minimal effort to get into as it has no laces, just a buckle on top and a drawcord at the heel that allows you to tighten the shoe. Laceless sneakers is a trend we're seeing in all different forms right now, but this is by far the most creative of the bunch yet.
In trying to solve for a laceless closure, Nike designer Gerald Sullivan just looked up. "I began thinking about how a parachute unfurls and wondered how that might operate in reverse," he told us. (So it makes sense that the sneakers are also being released with a matching poncho).
The design methodology behind Nike ACG, of taking objects that have nothing to do with footwear and turning them into amazing sneakers is of course nothing new (Tinker Hatfield, Nike's most famous sneaker designer, has used everything from architecture to airplanes as inspiration), but the KMTR is perhaps one example where the inspiration not only informs the form of the shoe, but the function as well. Ultimately if you're looking for a standout shoe that also can stand up to the rigors of city life, look no further.
$150, available May 18 at nikelab.com
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