Nike Sportswear has constructed an all-new budget-friendly React silhouette, dubbed the Nike React Live, as part of its experimental N. 354 division.
N. 354 uses the Department of Nike Archives and its vast cache of prototypes to spark new innovative ideas. Some of its experiments, such as the Huarache bootie, quickly became famous silhouettes, while it took others more than a decade to go from the first try to the final product. Nike celebrates this trial and error in seeking raw sneaker ingenuity with ideas such as the React Live that demonstrate the company’s past, present, and future.
Nike pays tribute to its traditional running design with the React Live, though with a modern twist, employing an innovative around-the-ankle lace system combined with the React technology in the sole unit. The exposed stitching design and the mixed material upper give it a DIY-style charm, drawing similarities to the the design cues Virgil Abloh employs on his Off-White renditions of classic Nike silhouettes. This colorway especially, with its pale yellow upper and bold wordmarks, is reminiscent of the “Tour Yellow” Off-White Vapor Street. Schematic-like graphics are also present, such as the ones surrounding the lateral Swoosh specifying its exact measurements.
Expect the Nike React Live to debut within the coming weeks via select retailers and Nike.com (a “Barely Volt” colorways has already popped overseas on Nike China). Retail price is expected to be $90 USD.
Nike React Live
Style Code: DJ5206-103
Release Date: 2021
Price: $90 USD
Photos via Yankee Kicks