April 25th, 2012 by Aaron Kr.
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Many sneaker fanatics and aficionados never take into consideration the painstaking efforts that go into creating the shoes that they love. The design process can be a tedious one, especially when you consider all of the factors that can sometimes tie a designer’s hands. One of the largest stumbling blocks is the need to keep materials and costs manageable in order to ensure that the final product is affordable for consumers and profitable for the brand. While we’d all love to see our Nike’s loaded up with large Air Max bags, full-length Zoom units, carbon fiber, foam and all those other costly amenities, the bottom line is that these coveted luxuries can often drive pricepoints out of control, urging the need for more cost-effective material options in their place.
But what would happen if Nike completely unchained the leash and opened the premium floodgates in the name of the ultimate performance basketball footwear? The answer is the Nike Basketball Elite Series, a no holds barred assault on the conventional design process and the budgeting limitations that can so often hold it back. For Nike Basketball designers Jason Petrie and Leo Chang, the Elite Series project is like a dream come true. With pricepoint constraints thrown out the window, the gloves were finally off to go out and reach for the pinnacle of performance basketball footwear glory. That kind of freedom doesn’t come along very often for most footwear designers, and when it does, it’s accompanied by a responsibility to meet lofty expectations.
For Jason, Leo and the rest of the Nike BBall team, the solution was to go back to the beginning to analyze and evaluate every aspect of each existing model to determine each and every place where performance could be enhanced. Materials were added, removed, invented, tweaked and shaved down, making the shoes lighter and stronger, as well as more responsive and comfortable, all in the name of providing NBA athletes and the consumers who buy the shoes with the ultimate option for the rigorous post season push. Right down to the types of threads that are woven into the laces and the sticky grips that contour to your step on the footbed, every possible detail has been considered and tailored to maximize the overall function of the shoe. The price tags might seem a bit high when you see these hit stores this weekend, but you get what you pay for and the Nike Basketball Elite Series has just raised the bar for what performance luxury can mean to a sneaker.
Continue reading for part 1 of our interview with Jason Petrie and Leo Chang and check back tomorrow for the follow-up featuring everything you need to know about upcoming Elite Series colorways.
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February 3rd, 2012 by John K.
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We’re certain that many Zoom KD fans attempted the ‘Creamsicle’ colorway once the Nike Zoom KD IV iD became available, but without the orange option on the strap, dreams of the Creamsicle melted away. This takes us back to that curious colorway that was spotted in mid-December, until Leo Chang himself said that they were neither a Creamsicle colorway nor a releasing shoe; here we have some up-close shots of this sample – a super-bright red tone with blue accents on the KD-specific branding as well as on the Swoosh and the midfoot plate. Like the prototype ‘Hyperfuse’ sample that was presented earlier this week, this KD IV sample features that Hyperfuse netting material on the heel. We’ve got an extra angle for you below so take a look and let us know what you think. via solecollector
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December 15th, 2011 by John K.
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The colorists over at Nike Basketball are goin’ ‘cray’ with the LeBron 9, Zoom Kobe VII, and Most Improved Sneaker KD IV. We can’t go on enough about how sick the unstoppable barrage of KD IV colorways has been, but it’s about to get a bit more serious as we get a look at the ‘Creamsicle’ colorway that became famous with the Nike Zoom KD II. Placed toe-to-toe with the upcoming Christmas colorway (with Leo Chang checkin’ up on his email/social media/ending items on eBay on his phone), the Creamsicle stands distinguished from the rest with the eye-popping tonal bright orange colorway, with the Photo Blue details on the Swoosh and midfoot giving the sneaker just the perfect amount of contrast. Check out the quick shots of this sick new colorway below and stick with Sneaker News as we’ll keep you up to date on all the neck-breaking Zoom KD IV colorways that are soon to come. via SC
Update: Leo Chang, designer of the Nike Zoom KD IV, stated in a tweet that these are not the ‘Creamsicle’, but a bright red colorway that will not release.
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November 16th, 2011 by John K.
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Just yesterday Sneaker news filled you in on the official unveiling of the Nike Zoom KD IV, but today, we’ve got an extra treat regarding the launch of Durant’s fourth signature shoe. Kevin Durant sat down with lead designer Leo Chang to talk about the Nike Zoom KD IV and what it brings to the table. The most notable feature is the new Adaptive Fit technology, which allows the KD IV to be a multi-position basketball shoe, suitable for any player of any size at any spot on the hardwood. Check out the full video below to get filled in about the Zoom KD IV process and stick with Sneaker News for more Nike Zoom KD IV updates.
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July 19th, 2011 by John K.
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At 6:30 EST / 3:30 PST today, Nike Basketball designer Leo Chang will be available for a Facebook chat session to discuss the all-new Nike Hyperfuse 2011. Leo Chang’s recent projects with Nike Basketball include the Nike Zoom KD III and Nike Zoom Kobe Dream Season II, but it’s the recently release Nike Zoom Hyperfuse 2011 that might be Chang’s prized work. If you’ve got some questions for one of Nike Basketball’s top designers, be sure to visit the Footlocker Facebook page and get involved in the discussion!
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