Sneaker News 
Nike is well known for being on the cutting edge of performance athletic footwear, but just as many people love the brand for their progressive style and design aesthetics. With the lifestyle footwear market booming at the moment, it’s only fitting that Nike get in on the fun with their own unique approach. The Swoosh has long relied on its classic models like the Dunk and Blazer in this department, but with the introduction of the Aina Chukka ND, the brand appears to be committed to creating some new classics when it comes to capturing that sophisticated grown-man look in style.
The Aina offers a unique, yet familiar design that blends the concept of a boat shoe with a Blazer-esque vulc midsole and the woven pattern that has been a reoccurring Nike staple for the last decade or so. As you can see, everything came together in perfect harmony for the Aina Chukka, providing today’s sneaker enthusiast with a classy and stylish new option. Following up on the recent intrigue surrounding the new model, Sneaker News recently had the chance to chat with the Aina’s designer, Nathan VanHook, to learn a little more about the shoe that many predict to be a Nike Sportswear mainstay for years to come.
SneakerNews: What’s the origin of the name Aina?
Nathan VanHook: The name of the shoe pays respect to our friend and colleague Masaki, and is named after his daughter Aina who is 2 years old now and full of energy. The name Aina fits the shoe perfectly, AINA means Love (AI) and Greens as well as Beautiful (NA) in Japanese and means Land/Earth in Hawaiian. The Aina has a nautical look while also being very crafted with its natural aesthetic and woven pattern, perfect for the Islands. During long sea voyages sailors/fishermen often desire nothing more than to see the sight of the land. The Nike Aina Chukka ND embodies that love of the earth, and enjoying your time at sea and the feeling of returning to land after a journey. The first colorway to come out actually has a green sole, to match the shoe’s name, and Aina has a little custom pair made just for her.
SN: Are the diamonds just a design element or is there some significance to their inclusion?
NVH: The iconic part of the Nike Aina Chukka ND is the woven quarter panel that adds a lot of breathability to the upper, Nike has been utilizing weaving in shoes for awhile dating back to the great work Mike Aveni has done over the years. We wanted to carry that aesthetic over to the pinline on the midsole as well, so it has the look that the pinline is being woven through the midsole.
SN: Its obvious that aesthetically the shoe goes for a sophisticated lifestyle look, but is there any notable technology or performance elements people should be aware of?
NVH: We really aimed at creating a very wearable shoe for any occasion. The main thing we focused on was keeping the Nike Aina Chukka ND breathable and lightweight, with the woven upper and perf pattern on the vamp and a minimal lining package. The tooling of the shoe comes from Nike’s iconic Blazer that has been proven in basketball and skate for over 30 years, so there is a great amount of traction for the day to day grind.
SN: Will we ever see an alternate version of the Aina with different types of materials replacing the woven upper?
NVH: We really tried to be true to the design for the additional seasons it will be coming out. The whole team came together and delivered on all levels, from the materials to the color palette. The materials and color palette might change a little over the coming seasons, but the woven upper will remain as the iconic part of the Nike Aina Chukka ND.
SN: Is this the start of a push for more Nike designs with a sophisticated lifestyle look?
NVH: As a whole, there are some really interesting things to look forward to, from sophisticated looks to designs utilizing the most advance technologies out of our performance categories and then putting our twist on them.
SN: Who do you think is the consumer for the Aina and where do you think its place is in comparison with other comparable styles on the lifestyle sneaker market?
NVH: The consumer for the Nike Aina Chukka ND is someone who wants a clean wearable shoe and is also use to the great comfort that Nike offers. We really do not try to get involved with the rest of the market, at Nike we just want to make great product that is entrenched in Nike DNA.
