Nike’s Flyease Promotes Disabled Independence With Just a Zipper

Nike’s new Flyease technology is game changing. No, not in the literal sense of the word—in fact it might be better described as life changing.

For a few years now, Nike Senior Director of Athlete Innovation Tobie Hatfield has been working on a pair of shoes that a person can tie with only one hand. Hatfield is trying to eliminate the dependence of amputees, stroke victims and people with cerebral palsy, and make Nike shoes all-inclusive.

According to Co.DESIGN’s Mark Wilson, the original sketch for these shoes came from a special pair designed for Nike’s first employee, Jeff Johnson, after he lost ability in his right hand following a stroke. Hatfield created a pair of shoes for Johnson that he could easily slip into—with one piece of hinged Velcro on the heel and a piece of Velcro on the instep.

Hatfield returned to this idea in 2012 after prodding from a Miami teen with cerebral palsy, who wished for a stabilizing shoe that his parents did not have to tie.

Looking to innovate his previous pair of shoes with more stability and a design that any athlete could wear, Hatfield created Flyease.

Similar to the previous shoe, the Flyease does open in the back, but it operates with a zipper connected to a piece of Velcro, instead of just a Velcro panel. Pulling on this Velcro allows the shoe wearer to zip up or unzip the shoe. The zipper curves around the heel of the shoe, and when it is unzipped, the shoe’s backside is easy to slide into.

The zipper then works in conjunction with a tunneling system of internal cords, which loosen and tighten the upper of the shoe based upon the position of the zipper.

Nike’s new technology will be available for purchase by the general public in limited quantities on July 16, in the form of Lebron Soldier 8 FLYEASE’s. Nike will also be sending the Zoom Soldier 8 FLYEASE to two U.S. basketball teams in the 2015 Special Olympics World Summer Games.

To see more of the story behind Flyease, watch the video below.