Nike’s alternative to barefoot sports
15/11/2012
The toeless shoes include ribbons that wrap around a wearer’s ankles and are made of neoprene with silicone, with 30 prototypes made and tested before the design was finalised.
Nike’s Ann Marie Fallow, women’s product director, said the company wished to address the issues of “hygiene and traction” with the wrap, and was influenced by barre work and ballet.
She said: “It’s great that women get to use their feet to bend, flex, squat, rotate, push and pull, but bare feet have some limits. First, uncovered feet are not always allowed in gyms and studios for hygiene purposes. Also, the bare foot can sometimes slip right in the midst of the most Zen moments.”
The Studio Wraps will be available from next spring with a recommended price of $110.
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