John Kim 
Since 2002, Hiroshi Fujiwara, Tinker Hatfield, and Mark Parker have dreamt up thirty-two insane iterations of existing shoes with the core mission of elevating style, function, and most importantly, wearability. They’ve dabbled on true classics like the Air Force 1 and innovative gems like the Flyknit Racer, but true HTM loyalists remember them for Air Wovens, the Macropus, and any other quirky sneaker that to the gen-pop, didn’t really seem to fit in. These limited edition products, most of the time individually numbered, helped fuel the sneaker craze and truly brought the hunt to the global level. Today, HTM is like the cool table in the lunch cafeteria that mystifies those around them, but Nike is ready to break that wall with an untold in-depth interview with the holy triumvirate.
Above: HTM x Nike Flyknit Racer “USA” (2012 release)
Hiroshi Fujiwara on how he influenced Flyknit colorization: “Flyknit shoes look so simple, but they are incredibly technical. I understood how amazing the technology was. But with early samples, it was hard to see if the shoe actually featured a knitted upper. In order to make the knit and seamless construction more visible, I advised the team to use colors to explain the concept, such as by mixing different colored yarns.”
Above: Original Nike Sock Dart from 2004
Tinker Hatfield on the Sock Dart: “I will tell you — one of the reasons I participate in a project of this nature is that it affords you the opportunity to unearth some gems that no one really paid attention to. By doing so, you can spark thought about future design. The Sock Dart helped people rethink some upcoming projects, as we were starting to work a lot with knit and this was such an advanced, futuristic shoe.”
Above: HTM x Nike Kobe 9 Elite Low
Mark Parker on the boundaries of HTM: “With HTM, there aren’t really any constraints. We can use the best materials at our disposal because we’re not usually creating something that’s produced in great numbers. So for the Air Force 1, we wanted to make a premium version by using an incredibly high-end leather. And instead of athletic color-blocking, we emphasized the classic lines of the shoe with contrast stitching.”
For the full feature, head to Nike News.
