Nike’s Space Hippie Transforms Trash Into Wearable Treasures

Nike has postponed the release of the Space Hippie collection to July 2nd.
 
 
Consumers have always been drawn to the brands who were capable of doing the most. But in recent years, there’s been a growing attraction to those who can do it with the least. As the ecological footprints of consumer brands are becoming more apparent, the priority of innovation has shifted towards creating substantial product from existing waste and scraps. Creating at all costs is, at this point, irresponsible. Sustainable sourcing is much of where Nike’s focus on the future relies. The science of creating materials is as important as collaborating with the right designer; both have lasting effects in the identity of the brand, but only one can physically influence the world around it.
 
 
Nike has been exploring sustainability methods for decades. In 2005, it launched Nike Considered, a product development initiative that required sourcing materials from within 200 miles from the Nike campus to reduce emissions from transportation. Leathers, suedes, and hemps were made with minimal treatment, while soles were made of recycled factory waste rubber. Other successful initiatives included Trash Talk, which constructed shoes with leather scraps from factory floors, Flyknit, with yarns made of recycled plastic water bottles, and Flyleather, a synthetic prove how the brand practically implemented responsible methods into the creation of attractive footwear. With Space Hippie, they’re onto something that could have true lasting effects.
 

Crater Foams, Space Waste Yards, and the recycled ZoomX insoles all take shape into four distinct models – the Space Hippie 01, Space Hippie 02, Space Hippie 03, and Space Hippie 04. The entire footwear collection is unisex and will be available in extended sizes for both genders. Each comes housed in a special shoe-box that is completely non-descript on the exterior, outside of the shoe box-tag and the brand markings on the bottom, but the inside tells a much larger story with the TRASH IS TREASURE tag-line, Space Hippie graphics, and more. The enter set releases on June 11th on Nike SNKRS/SNEAKRS.

The Space Hippie 01 looks the most like a “regular” shoe, in that it has a typical low-cut of a running shoe and a traditional lacing layout. The lace eyelets are formed with an exterior cord that loops to create a necessary holes for the laces, which sits above the ribbon that is stitched down on the mid-foot. The outsole is made of Crater Foam with a full-length ZoomX insole for added responsiveness and cushioning. This model releases on June 11th on Nike SNKRS/SNEAKRS for $130 USD.

The Space Hippie 02 ditches the lacing arrangement of the 01 and increases the height to a chukka-like stance. The Swoosh logo is now placed at the forefoot, an attractive detail seen in speedy high-performing sports models such as the Mercurial series and even the Nike LeBron signature shoe series. The ankle features thicker padding and a tighter elasticity for better fit. This model releases on June 11th on Nike SNKRS/SNEAKRS for $150 USD.

The Space Hippie 03 is said to be the most limited of the four models, simply because the sourcing for the exterior Flyease mechanism was limited in supply. The pull-strap and heel-release are all made of recycled materials, while the Fast-Fit mechanisms were from the original 1.0 units that were made aerlier. This model releases on June 11th on Nike SNKRS/SNEAKRS for $180 USD.

The Space Hippie 04, seen in two colorways, is a women’s release, although it will be available in extended sizing. The entire Space Hippie footwear collection is considered unisex, but the 04 has a lower cut than the 01 and a completely different Crater Foam midsole in grey. This model releases on June 11th on Nike SNKRS/SNEAKRS for $180 USD in grey/crimson and grey/blue colorways.