Kicks: Nike Air Max 1 360 Hybrid

The newly refreshed kicks dropped by Nike takes us back to the old school with the comfort of today. The Nike 1 360 Hybrid is the latest of many coming hybrid line of Hybrid sneakers. A nice clean colorway that should be popular with sneakerheads, and also the general public. The grey, black, and white is a clean look for everybody.

The Air Max 360 sole makes doing just about anything comfortable. You can hit up your local Footlocker to pick them up, as they are available now.

Air Force 1 Closing Ceremonies By Nike

Nike seems to have thought of everything except for… signing Usain Bolt to the company. With that the closing ceremonies are about to begin at any moment now.

Nike Air Force 1 “Closing Ceremonies” is Nike’s way of closing the games with a bang. It comes in a gold upper of course, along with a laser etched graphic all over the upper. The shoe as well as a special 080808 box will be released on August 25th.

Jamaica Sprinting Inspires Kicks

Nike iD has refreshed their Dunk High’s and Low’s for the Fall 2008 collection.

The second pair feature a floral jaquard in white or black, and the third are based a hero from the Olympics, Jamaican runner Asafa Powell the former world record holder as the fastest man on Earth. The pattern borrows the Jamaican Flag colors and a cheetah pattern seen in Powell’s custom Olympic spikes and makes a bold and bright Dunk High and low. Act quickly because availability is short. Nike iD Studios.

Via Kickaholic.

Get Carried With the Olympic Sneakers

The Olympic Games are here, and what better a way for the sneaker lover to get in the spirit than to pick up a pair of Olympic inspired sneakers. Go for the gold, or settle on silver.

The special edition Nike Air Max 1 “Olympic Perforated Metal” shoes have been dropped in 888 select retail stores around the globe.

The shoes are available in either gold or silver, and feature entirely perforated uppers, embroidery on the heel, and white soles.

Style Is King In Beijing–Liu Xiang Has A Shoe

In China Liu Xiang and Yao Ming are national heroes. As the summer track and field Olympic events in Beijing approach, Nike is honoring Chinese track and field athlete Liu Xiang with a pair of Dunk Premium Lows with gold accents. Via [Nike-Dunks.net]

Olympic Inspired Nike Shoes

Well, it is the Olympic time of the year, and everyone is getting in on the action. Nike could not resist putting out yet another set of shoes inspired by the Games. These fly shoes were recently released by the Oregon-based athletic apparel company.

By Jay Hicks.

Sanya Richards Is Star Material

She wore the athletic gear well.

Not only did she win the whole thing but she made a statement while doing it at the U.S. Olympic Trials in Eugene.

I am referring to Sanya Richard’s dominant win in the women’s 400-meters, that silenced critics and her own personal doubts after failing to qualify for World Championship team last year.

This year could not have been more different than last year for the former University of Texas 400-meter runner.

This time around Sanya made a big fashion statement with her uniform and gear as she reclaimed her star status after a year lost to illness. Wearing one of Nike’s half-Space Age (forearm covers), half-wonky (knee-high black socks) uniforms, Richards brought down the house at Hayward Field while winning the 400.

There is history behind the athletic gear and the timing, A certain women by the name of Flo Jo made speed fashionable. As Richards crossed the finish line in the fresh Nike gear, the moment immediately conjured up memories of Flo Jo crossing the finish line at the 1988 U.S. Olympic Trials. Flo Jo captivated the world with her racing outfits, she wore one leg outfits, fluorescent, and some of them where even lace.

Was this display a precursor to Olympic gold for Richards?

Nike chose their leading lady to debut the Nike uniform the U.S. track and film uniform— complete with the dimpled-fabric arm coverings and calf warmers that the company says provide aerodynamic advantages. The swift gloves and swift socks that are made to reduce drag in the wind.

The accessories don’t just look good they are practical. Wearing arm covering while running in the August heat may seem counterproductive, but tests show that the sleeves reduce drag by 19% over bare arms, and the long socks reduce drag by 12.5%. Nike figures the improvements in the garments since the 2004 Olympics in Athens will mean a benefit of .02 seconds in the 100 meter race.

The front of Sanya’s uniform worn in Eugene is the “Nike We the People Graphic” that is to appear on the back of the uniforms of the 2008 track and field Olympic uniforms, which are provided by Nike, of course. Unfortunately it may be difficult to see on the Olympic uniforms because it’s blue on blue, but at least some people will got a glimpse before the Games.

The “Nike We the People Graphic” draws inspiration from a number of cultural elements and design influences to create a bold aesthetic specific to the USA. The graphic, created by Design Director Mark Smith, leverages Nike’s Aerographics technology.

With Aerographics, Nike designers incorporated mesh directly into a garment without any extra materials or added weight. Both the “Nike We the People Graphic” and Aerographics technology are highlighted in the 2008 USA Basketball, Track and Field, Softball and BMX team uniforms.

Specific elements of the design include: the Statue of Liberty, represented by the torch, stars and stripes representing the 50 American states, decorative elements from our nations’ currency, the olive branch and arrows from the talons of the American eagle in the Presidential seal, and the Celtic, African and Native American symbols and influences.

Sanya has a million dollar smile and the athletic gear to show off as well. Hopefully the world and most importantly the advertisers on Madison Avenue will recognize her star power in Beijing.

By Jay Hicks.

The Hardest Team to Make by Nike Is Hard to Miss!

-From Eugene, Oregon

The sights in and around Hayward Field are overwhelming figures of Nike. The place is bought and paid for by Phil Knight and company.

The presence of the Beaverton, Oregon-based apparel maker permeats the place. Many of the greater Eugene area employees from hotels, restaurants, bars, and vendors all sport the ‘08 Eugene shirts boldly displaying the Nike symbol.

The city buses have various billboards featuring the Nike swoosh, and the Hayward Stadium is plastered with the company’s images. Look to buy a t-shirt on-site with an Adidas logo, and you would be out of luck because they are not here.

Nike is reportedly a seven-figure contributor to the Olympic Trials, and most businesses are forbidden to sell any product that competes directly with Nike. Without the company’s support, the best Olympic Trials ever hosted would not be possible.

Adidas has set up booths at the Villard Street Pub, which is a pub located near the track. The Adidas logo is also plastered on the feet and bodies of the Olympic Trials’ biggest stars, such as Tyson Gay and Jeremy Wariner.

By Jay Hicks.

Olympic Hopeful Jared Rome Graces Vogue

The big men deserve some credit. It’s not all about size, it’s also about using speed to deliver a huge shot or discus performance.

Discus champion, Jared Rome, held his own in the April edition of Vogue Magazine featuring Hard Bodies Unite. He is featured holding supermodel Raquel Zimmermann rocking Nike gear. Vogue’s controversial cover with Gisele Bunchen and Lebron James leads into a series of short interviews with famous Olympic athletes and fashion models including Bryan Clay, Jared Rome, and Allyson Felix.

Photos courtesy Vogue Magazine.

Nike, Adidas Gear Up For Sneaker War!

The bar for spikes was set sky high by Michael Johnson running into history sporting Nikes at the Atlanta Olympic Games, where he clocked 19.32 seconds in 200-meters and won gold in the 400-meters. Millions still remember Johnson’s custom spikes, and that’s exactly why Nike customized the shoes for him.

Sneakers are more than functional footwear. They need to feel good, look good. They represent our individual style and taste.

Shoemakers have long battled for the Chinese market, but the Beijing Olympics are the battle ground for bitter rivals, Nike and Adidas. The Chinese market, made up of mainland China, Taiwan and Hong Kong, is the second largest market in the world and is worth a whopping $1 billion a year in sales.

Nike is hedging their bets on Asafa Powell. They imprinted his feet and studied his running style to deliver the lightest and strongest kicks ever for the 100-meter world record holder.