Name: W Nike Air Footscape Woven "Phantom"
SKU: 200812

This is a homage to one of the greatest shoes of all time. You might be able to feel the author’s bias in the Air. The Nike Air Footscape is certainly one of the more polarising models in the Nike timeline, but to it’s diehards: it’s Footscape or bust! Somewhere during its almost 30 year history, Nike’s Footscape earned a genuine cult-like following.

Debuting to the world in 1996, the Footscape’s story begins with Nike’s Advanced Project Engineering Group. A division of engineers & designers Nike created in the early 90’s whose charge it was to upset the status quo. Tory Orzeck is credited with being the driving force behind the Footscape’s design & approval by the higher up’s to get the shoe into production. Orzeck also played a key role in creating other Nike classics like the Air Foamposite & Nike Moc!

So in 1996, what did we have? Nike had created a “Footform” shoe that was built around the anatomical shape of the foot. The signature asymmetric lacing system of the Footscape was implemented to help relieve stress from arteries & nerves in key areas & pressure points of the foot. Suede & mesh were used to keep supreme comfort, & a plastic heel cup for structure. Of note also is the lightweight Phylon midsole, which was used on other Nike “comfort classics” like the Presto & Mayfly.

So why is the Air Footscape a cult classic? An interesting mix of factors come into play. Foremost, is the creation of a completely seperate shoe all together - the Nike Air Woven. Created by Mike Aveni & originally releasing in 2000 - the Air Woven draws inspiration from ancient civilisation sandals & traditional basket weaving.

But it isn’t until 2005 that these two sneakers unite! The Air Footscape & Air Woven merge, and the Air Footscape Woven is born. Enter Nike’s fabled HTM division who prototype & develop the first few colour ways. Enter Hiroshi Fujiwara (the “H” in HTM), Hirofumi Kiyonaga & Edison Chen. These 3, especially Hiroshi, all played a part in catapulting the Footscape & the Nike Woven to the status they have today.

The Footscape has a very unique place in the Nike timeline. It is a unicorn of a product whose future iterations were arguably received better by the public than its original. It is one of the few shoes in Nike’s classic line-up that was able to look at home in a dinner jacket, as well as raw jeans & a T-shirt. To its fans, there is nothing greater.