Nike Sock Dart Part 1
After a trip to Japan in 2004, Tinker Hatfield and his team stumbled across an seemingly simple kids sock. However, there wasn’t a stitch in sight. This got the cogs turning and as a team they began looking into circular knit. Together, with an external programmer started questioning and experimenting what was possible. Circular knit seems common in footwear today but this project was the precursor for what became Flyknit.
In order to create support for the wearer, the team incorporated a mid-foot strap which we recognize as a distinct element of the shoe today. Personally, It is one of my favourite elements. I love the transparency. Interestingly, the shoe was handed to Mark Smith, to get his eye and decision on what was and wasn’t necessary on the shoe. He added the finishing touches, like the sculptured heel and the HTM tooling pattern, breaking up the H-T-M for collectors to see minor differences.
When it came to choosing colours, the shoe was inspired by the bodies of tree dart frogs which are often brightly coloured and poisonous. Beautiful but dangerous. It tells other animals, I’m not worth eating or attacking. Unless you want trouble?
So you see sock + dart.
In true retro Nike advert style and the sock dart had some cheeky ads, this stamp carries on tradition. In the early 2000s Nike had one which said “rock out with your sock out.”
What do you you think? Risqué or “it is provocative, it gets the people goin’?”
In order to create support for the wearer, the team incorporated a mid-foot strap which we recognize as a distinct element of the shoe today. Personally, It is one of my favourite elements. I love the transparency. Interestingly, the shoe was handed to Mark Smith, to get his eye and decision on what was and wasn’t necessary on the shoe. He added the finishing touches, like the sculptured heel and the HTM tooling pattern, breaking up the H-T-M for collectors to see minor differences.
When it came to choosing colours, the shoe was inspired by the bodies of tree dart frogs which are often brightly coloured and poisonous. Beautiful but dangerous. It tells other animals, I’m not worth eating or attacking. Unless you want trouble?
So you see sock + dart.
In true retro Nike advert style and the sock dart had some cheeky ads, this stamp carries on tradition. In the early 2000s Nike had one which said “rock out with your sock out.”
What do you you think? Risqué or “it is provocative, it gets the people goin’?”
- Stampsolector
