In 1981, two men climbed K2, the second highest mountain in the world, in Nike Lava Domes (known as “LDVs”). While their peers did the arduous climb in heavy hiking boots, the pair understood the value of the lightweight and flexible waffle shoe. The Waffle Trainer design was first introduced in 1974, featuring Nike co-founder Bill Bowerman’s famous waffle sole.
But, to wear running shoes as hiking shoes? Unheard of. When Nike designers saw photos of the two men sporting their Nikes at K2’s base camp in Pakistan, they were inspired. Nike’s hiking and ACG outdoor apparel business was eventually born and fueled, in part, by this inspiring event.
The innovative evolution of the LDV continued. And now, more than 25 years later, the same shoe has evolved into The Lava Dome CI. CI stands for Considered Innovation. In January of this year, the shoe, designed by Nike Employee Mike Aveni, was nominated for its sustainable design by the prestigious VOLVO Sports Design committee.
The shoe, in development for more than a year, integrates sustainable design at nearly all levels of production. From materials sourcing to the physical construction, the Lava Dome CI was recognized by Volvo for its sustainable, yet quality-performance design.
Some of the Lava Dome CI’s Considered features include:
- The midsole and outsole tooling use snap-fit construction so the chemical adhesives normally affiliated with the footwear manufacturing process are eliminated.
- Recycled materials are widely used throughout the shoe. The outsole incorporates Nike Grind while the midsole uses recycled foam and the webbing uses 100 percent recycled polyester. Even the laces are recycled.
- To ensure transportation pollution is minimized, all materials for the shoe, including the leather upper, are locally sourced within 50 miles of the manufacturer.
So, how are all of these Considered components held together? The upper, midsole and lower are woven together in such a way that they are durable enough for an outdoor adventure, but simple enough to deconstruct for recycling. The shoe will be available this summer (in most Nike retail stores and online at Nike.com) with a suggested retail price of $80.
Congratulations to Mike Aveni and the ACG team on your nomination and innovation.
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