Well Nike Considered certainly has made a splash — in the blogosphere at least. I was dismayed to find from this ID Fuel post that “the most innovative idea is their incorporation of a woven hemp-polyester upper.”
This basket-like tongue, based on one of their earlier Presto technologies, the Air Woven, allows material to be used as it is needed, rather than creating scrap leather by cutting out complicated patterns. As an added bonus, the shoes have a very forgiving fit, so people with high arches, or non-so-average bones won’t be uncomfortable. And even better, when varying color lacing is used, the shoes can take on a one of a kind patchwork look that is unique to each pair.
But it’s so… ugly. I’m having some real moral/aesthetic dissonance here.
