Zack Schlemmer 
The latest edition of Nike’s Inside Access takes a look at the brand’s newest technological innovation: Flyweave. The intricately woven textile material that first debuted in the Air Jordan XX9 has now reached a number of Nike’s premier level shoes, including Tiger Woods’ latest signature golf shoe and Calvin Johnson’s powerful on-field cleat and off-field trainer. Designed to be a “bionic second skin”, Flyweave allows a supportive yet flexible fit that allows a maximum natural range of motion for the foot. One of Flyweave’s key features—and what makes it even more advanced than Flyknit—is that designers are able to fine-tune the strength, flexibility, and support of the weave for each specific sport’s ideal range of motion.
The creation of Flyweave began four years ago, when Nike designer Thomas Bell was intrigued and inspired by space-age textiles prevalent in the aerospace industry. Through much experimentation with a countless number of textile combinations, Flyweave was born. “Weaving enables us to go to space,” says Bell. “Flyweave is one of the most exciting innovations I’ve seen at Nike – inspired from traditional weaving methods, but with the strength and reliability of aerospace materials.”
Ready to become a mainstay in Nike’s design DNA, expect to find Flyweave utilized on many more high-performance models in the near future.
For even more details on Flyweave, visit Nike’s Inside Access story.
