OUT OF THE BOX

Nike calls “Flyleather” its most sustainable leather material yet

When Nike introduced its Flyknit technology in 2012, the sportswear giant literally broke the mold of sneaker construction. By using a weaving technique that results in a virtually seamless one-piece upper, Nike is able to create a shoe that has the featherweight pliability of a sock yet the support and durability of a trainer. Flyknit is better for the environment, too. Compared with traditional cut-and-sew methods, the technology allows the company to slash its waste by roughly 60 percent. Five years on, Nike is employing a similar tack to Flyleather, a new “super material” that looks and feels like leather but is lighter and stronger.

Nike calls Flyleather its “most sustainable leather material ever.” Unlike traditional full-grain leather, Flyleather comprises parts of a cow’s hide that’s typically discarded during the leather-making process—up to 30 percent, according to Nike.

The firm grinds up the scraps, combining them with synthetic-blend fibers and polyester fabric before fusing everything into a single material. After a finishing process that includes final touches such as pigmentation, the material is placed on a roll for cutting, which improves efficiency and creates less

All in all, the Flyleather technique uses about 90 percent less water than traditional full-grain leather, Nike said. It also has an 80 percent smaller carbon footprint than conventional leather manufacturing.

“Nike Flyleather completely mimics athletic, pigmented full-grain leathers in everything from fit to touch,” Tony Bignell, vice president of footwear innovation, said in a statement. “Unlike with traditional leathers, Flyleather can be produced with a consistent grade across a broader range of product.”

You don’t have to wait to experience Flyleather in person. An all-white Flyleather version of Nike’s signature Tennis Classic is available for sale for $85 at www.nike.com and at the Nike SoHo store, NikeLab 21 Mercer, and Dover Street Market in New York City.

Liat

Recent Posts

Bitsight to Acquire Cyber Threat Intelligence Leader Cybersixgill to Help Enterprises to Preempt Cyber Attacks

Plans to Deliver Advanced Threat Intelligence within its Attack Surface and Third-Party Risk Solutions  Bitsight,…

9 hours ago

Molex Announces Agreement to Acquire AirBorn, Expanding its Position in the Aerospace and Defense Market

AirBorn provides mission-critical components and services to leading companies in the aerospace and defense, commercial…

9 hours ago

NVIDIA’s Israel-1 Ranks No. 34 in the TOP500 List of the World’s Most Powerful Supercomputers

The fastest AI supercomputer in the country, accelerated by the Israel-developed NVIDIA Spectrum-X Networking platform,…

9 hours ago

Melexis and Geely Illuminate the Future of Automotive Lighting Design

 Melexis is pleased to announce that the renowned Geely Automotive Group has chosen to use…

9 hours ago

Enhanced performance: Panasonic Industry releases advanced OS-CON high-voltage capacitor line extension

New SXV, SXE, and SVPG series deliver superior durability, low ESR, high ripple current, and…

9 hours ago

Mouser Explores the Open-Source Future with RISC-V Technology Resource Centre

Mouser Electronics, Inc., the industry’s leading New Product Introduction (NPI) distributor with the widest selection…

9 hours ago