The tenets of Nike ISPA — Improvise, Scavenge, Protect, Adapt — has largely focused on practical yet creative solutions for those who view elite cushioning and comfort as the starting point in footwear. On that standpoint, Nike has delivered a variety of non-conventional options that have, at the very least, broke the mold on an aesthetic standpoint. However, ISPA has gone beyond the visual and looked inwards to its manufacturing processes to find solutions that align with their goal to create a close the loop in product circulation and create truly sustainable products.
The upcoming ISPA Link speaks to its problem-solving philosophy by offering a completely glueless shoe that does not require the heating/cooling processes that take up time. One pair of ISPA Links takes just eight minutes to manufacture, which Nike says is a fraction of the time it takes to produce a conventional sneaker.
Without glue, the shoe is constructed with three inter-locking modules that can be take apart and dropped off at Nike retail stores that offer the Recycling & Donation services. The midsole is made up of pegs that fit through openings in the larger upper. The lower portion is presumably replaceable to extend the life of the shoes. The upper itself is made from recycled materials that are repurposed into yarns.
The Nike ISPA Link is currently expected to release in June.