Nike is really engaging their sportswear unit and are steadily launching innovative designs and concepts. Of all the fresh kicks making their way into the market, the Nike Aina Chukka is most definitely one of the most unique in the collection. These instantly caught my eye by evoking images of Native American moccasins in my mind, with its light-weight silhouette.
The upper, composed entirely of suede, has side panels that mimic the pattern of hand-woven baskets through which the leather laces even impose a slight invasion. The shoe features a vulcanized rubber sole that has a single file diamond print design and you won’t find a Swoosh logo here, but to make sure that everyone knows who concocted these kicks, “NIKE” is stitched into the tip of the tongue. The toe box is perforated, which, coupled with the ventilation of the side panels, only adds to the overall breathability.
These are not your run-of-the-mill sneakers, but they do embody Nike’s willingness to set new trends and gives them an easy zip line into the summer season with the luxury of rolling out new colorways. As of right now though, there are only Black-Swan and Stone-Swan colorways available, but Navy/White and Olive/White sets are soon on the way. When exactly they will be released is unknown, but we will certainly be on the look out.
[Original Release: 2010; Price: $95 retail]
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source: nicekicks.com, nikestore.com
