Tag Archives: shoes

Nike Mag auction ends, raises $11.3 million for McFly’s charity

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Between September 8 and September 13, 1500 pairs of the 2011 Nike Mag sold on eBay. In total, the eBay auctions over that ten-day period raised $5,695,190.53; all proceeds are going to Michael J. Fox’s charity for Parkinson’s research. But it doesn’t end there. Remember that Google founder Sergey Brin and his wife Anne Wojcicki have offered to match all donations to the Foundation up to $50 million through the end of 2012. With that taken into consideration, the grand total morphs into a whopping $11,390,381.10. What an impressive feat for sneakerheads, Back to the Future fans, and the Parkinson’s community!

The celebration doesn’t end here. It continues after the break where you’ll find four “official” Nike videos providing behind-the-scenes looks at the making of the shoe from the future. Now all we have to do is wait until 2015 when the real Nike Mag comes complete with auto-lacing.

[Via Stupiddope] Continue reading Nike Mag auction ends, raises $11.3 million for McFly’s charity →

2011 Nike Mag auction begins, Christopher Lloyd returns in “Back For The Future” (video)

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That last post detailing the launch of the 2011 Nike Mag Back to the Future sneaker is filling to the brim, so I’ve decided to make a new landing for all the latest on the greatest shoe never made (until now, that is).

The auction kicked off September 8 at 8:30PM PST and it will last for ten days. Every day 150 pairs of the sneaker will be made available at eBay. Here’s a link to the Nike Mag-eBay portal. There you’ll be able to view and bid on the shoes, ranging in size from 7 to 13. After a quick glance, most of the shoes currently hover around the $2,500 price point. But don’t let those early tallies fool you; British rapper Tinie Tempah won the first Mag on-site at the Nike launch event with a winning bid of $37,500, and bids on eBay have reportedly reached the $75,000 mark. So unless you’re willing to drop thousands for the shoe from the future, pass your time by drifting your eyes to the next paragraph.

Last night Michael J. Fox appeared on the David Letterman to detail the shoe and it’s release. After showing it off, he announced that Google founder Sergey Brin and his wife Anne Wojcicki have offered to match all donations to the Michael J. Fox Foundation up to $50 million through the end of 2012. So even though you sit there in frustration knowing that owning the Mag is a pipe dream, you can rest assured that all of the money exchanged over the course of the 10-day auction is going to a great cause. If you’re itching to donate to Parkinson’s research in other ways, visit www.michaeljfox.org. Watch Fox’s Letterman appearance after the break.

And finally, the last topic that must be discussed is the marketing campaign behind the Mag release. Check it:

When the original Back to the Future creative team learned of Nike’s desire to support Fox’s foundation with the release of the 2011 NIKE MAG shoes, Executive Producer Frank Marshall joined the effort. A concept was hatched to develop a ‘Lost Scene’ to honor the original Back to the Future films and characters, capturing Doc Brown’s efforts to make Marty ‘fit in’ during his visit to 2015. [via Nike]

And so Back For The Future was born. BTTF executive producer Frank Marshall directed the short film and Robert Zemeckis (helmer of the trilogy) came back to EP. Also returning is the mad scientist himself–Christopher Lloyd as Doc Emmett Brown and Donald Fullilove as salesman Goldie Wilson III. SNL castmember Bill Hader and basketball star Kevin Durant also star in the video embedded after the break. Below, find even more stills of the glorious Mag.

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Continue reading 2011 Nike Mag auction begins, Christopher Lloyd returns in “Back For The Future” (video) →

Great Scott! Nike hints at Air Mag ‘Back to the Future’ sneaker release! [Update: Launch info]

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Back to the Future fans and sneakerheads, listen here. Nike is about to drop some major news: the Air Mag sneaker, as featured and worn by Marty McFly in Back to the Future Part II, is set to slip into reality. The glowing, auto-lacing sneaker from the future will hit the market today (well maybe not precisely today, but you know what I mean).

So here’s the relatively short story. Ever since these shoes made an appearance in the movie, BBTF buffs and sneaker collectors alike have been praying for this very day to come. In May 2009 Nike filed a patent describing “an article of footwear with an automatic lacing system.” Late last night Nike sent out urgent invitations inviting guests to attend a product unveiling. The invitation was in the form of a black box and enclosed was an iPod shuffle and a written invitation. The audible notice was a personal message from Dr. Emmett Brown stating, “Welcome to Los Angeles. If my calculations are correct, over the next 24 hours you are about to see some SERIOUS SH*T!” The card said, “IT’S ABOUT TIME. Tinker Hatfield, VP of Design and Innovation at Nike, cordially invites you to an unveiling that could change the course of time.” Other BTTF related goodies came inside, including a sleek pair of metal shield glasses.

And that brings us to right now. Moments ago a teaser video was uploaded to YouTube by one DocEmmettBrown88 glimpsing us inside “McFly’s Closet.” This sneaker is real people, and it’s coming soon. Park here, and as soon as official word comes from Nike following the announcement event I’ll update this post and splay all the release and pricing details for you. While you’re waiting, drool in anticipation by replaying the teaser above  (now after the break) and then jump after the break to watch the Air Mag in action, circa 2015.

Update: Here’s the official launch info straight from Nike: “1500 pairs of the 2011 NIKE MAG will be auctioned on eBay with all net proceeds going directly to The Michael J. Fox Foundation. Each day for the duration of the ten-day auction, one hundred and fifty pairs of the 2011 NIKE MAG shoes will be made available via eBay’s Fashion Vault. The auction starts September 8, 8:30PM PST, and will end September 18. Thanks to a previous 50 million dollar match given to the Michael J. Fox Foundation, all donations will be matched, effectively doubling the contributions from the auction.”

Nike goes on to describe the shoe’s aesthetic: “The first rechargeable footwear from Nike, the 2011 NIKE MAG shoes were designed to be precise replicas of the originals from Back to the Future II. The aesthetic is an exact match, down to the contours of the upper, the glowing LED panel and the electroluminescent NIKE in the strap. The only deviation from the original is additional foam support in the ankle and toe box for increased comfort. The 2011 NIKE MAG illuminates with the pinch of the “ear” of the high top, glowing for five hours per charge.” Not a single word about the auto-lacing feature. Bummer!

Nike CEO Mark Parker said this at the launch event: “We wanted to translate the excitement people have for the ‘greatest shoe never made’ and for the Back to the Future into positive action. But the long term objective is to raise awareness so the Foundation can achieve their goal of eradicating Parkinson’s disease.” Fox, the actor who played Marty McFly back in 1989, added: “This project is exciting to me because it brings together three very passionate audiences: the Parkinson’s community, the sneakerheads and Back to the Future fans. With their support we can accelerate our objective of finding a cure for Parkinson’s.” He is the featured guest on the Late Show with David Letterman tonight on CBS; he’s expected to detail the Air Mag during his interview.

An astute Nice Kicks commenter posted, “Shitttt. You cant camp outside of eBay!” That’s right–this item is certainly going to be a hot commodity when it hits the auction site and it’ll be extremely hard to get if you’re not extremely rich. At least all the money is going to a great cause. Ah well, a boy can still dream of a future where everyone sports super cool auto-lacing sneaks. Perhaps that day will come when it’s supposed to–in 2015. Get a closer look at the shoe in the gallery below, and after the break you’ll a find a third related video.

[Via NiceKicks 1, 2, 3; Nike] Continue reading Great Scott! Nike hints at Air Mag ‘Back to the Future’ sneaker release! [Update: Launch info] →

High heels illuminated by fiber optics

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Italian fashion designer Francesca Castagnacci’s bold new project called “bright fashion” weaves and integrates LED-powered fiber optics into accessory fabrics.  Here is an example of the fashion statement instituted in a high heel shoe.  The result is an illuminated radiance that will surely catch the eye of modern trendsetters.  Each fiber optic wire is as thin as a human hair and requires an LED at either end to light up.  Ladies, interested?  Look in the gallery below for additional shots of this truly cutting-edge design.

[Via Gizmodo; DVICE; Yatzer]

Multitouch? Pfft! Try multi-toe.

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A bunch of bright minds at the Hasso Plattner Institute in Germany have been working on this research project they call “multi-toe interaction.”  Basically it’s a multitouch floor that can recognize a person based on their shoe pattern.  But I’ll let the masterminds explain:

The key factor of the shown design is that it is based on frustrated total internal reflection sensing. FTIR allows it to identify and track users based on their sole patterns. The floor recognizes foot postures, distinguishes users who interact from people walking by, and enables high-precision interaction. In addition, the floor can approximate users’ head positions based on the pressure profile in the soles and it extracts enough details from soles to allow users to play first person shooters by balancing their feet.

So precise!  Not so sure if this can ever be practically implemented, but it’s always good to see unique implementations of a multitouch interface.  Even if it involves stinky feet.

[Via YouTube; Engadget]

Illuminated Heels

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These light-up three inch heels come from the mind of Nicholas Kirkwood, made for design team Rodarte.  They were shown off at this year’s NY Fashion Week.  Whenever tech is embedded into fashion, that’s always a good thing, no?  Addtional shots in the gallery below, and a video of the heels in action after the break.

[Via Gizmodo; FashioningTech]

Continue reading Illuminated Heels →

Common Projects Spring/Summer 2010 Collection

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Common Projects is a collaboration between designers Flavio Girolami and Prathan Poopat.  Inspired by the lines and shapes of everyday objects, they design their pieces with tailored approach, using the finest materials and techniques.

Common Projects sneakers will be available this spring in a number of styles and colorways.  Pricing details have not been disclosed.  Check ’em all out in the gallery below.

2/22: UPDATE after the break.

[Via KanyeBlog; TheCorner]

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Continue reading Common Projects Spring/Summer 2010 Collection →

Mirrored shoes are some sort of fashion statement?

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“Invisible Shoes.”  Designed by Andreia Chaves.

The “Invisible Shoes” are low-cut boots covered in asymmetrical mirrors that reflect the wearer’s surroundings and create a different optical effect with every step.

These mirrored shoes are only concept footwear for now.  But can’t you picture someone like Lady Gaga so wanting a pair of these?

[Via Gizmodo; CNET]

Five finger toe shoes are all the rage this holiday season

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Pictured above is Google’s co-founder Sergey Brin.  At last week’s Google Chrome OS announcement he made a quick appearence sporting these outrageous shoes that have a place for all five toes to take comfort.  Vibram’s Five Fingers are “ultralight running/sports shoes with separate pockets for each toe.” Though they look quite unconventional, they are apparently great running shoes and are praised by CrunchGear.  If you’re interested in a pair, they go for about $75 and are available to order here.

[Via CrunchGear]

The mojito shoe looks uncomfortable by design

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The mojito shoe is designed by London architect Julian Hakes. 

Hakes: “The material choice is simple: The shoe is a laminate with Carbon fibre for the core which gives the shoe its spring and strength, leather on the foot side and rubber on the walking wearing side. 3 materials, each doing a specific job.”

See more images of this fashionably unique yet somewhat disturbingly uncomfortable shoe in the gallery below.

[Via Gizmodo; Deezen]

The Junk Dunk

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Created by Gabriel Dishaw.  It’s the Nike Dunks from the future!

This piece was a continuation of my previous piece JUNK DUNK (Right) I wanted to attempt this approach again, with a more refined and detailed outcome. I used very little wire and more glue to keep the piece more clean, and less bulky. I also added new details, a hinged tongue and nike logo’s on both the tongue and back of the shoe. On previous models I used a real nike sole to build of off. With this piece I started from scratch and build the sole from circuit boards.

[Via Gizmodo; GabrielDishaw]