Description
A pair of black/grey coloured Nike ISPA Link trainers. ISPA, standing for Improvise, Scavenge, Protect and Adapt, is a set of design principles that Nike has adopted to challenge its creative teams in the move towards a circular design-led closed-loop system. In this example, disassembly is addressed with the Link trainer requiring no glue in its construction and using as few materials as possible. Consisting of two modular parts that are held together through tension, the thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) sole has a series of protruding pegs in its base that slot into openings within the recycled polyester upper. This enables the shoes to be easily taken apart at end-of-life to replace worn parts and/or recycle materials. Using glue and other bonding elements to cement shoe components together typically causes problems for recycling and usually results in the entire shoe being shredded, an energy-intensive process with limited application for the recyclate. Released in 2022, Nike claim the manufacturing process for the ISPA Link reduces their overall carbon footprint as cooling, heating, gluing and conveyer belt systems are no longer needed and each pair takes only eight minutes to produce, further lowering emissions from labour. The trainers were designed in Beaverton, Oregon, US and manufactured in Vietnam. Measurements provided are for one intact shoe. UK size 7
Inscriptions
moulded: "ISPA" (outer edge of sole)
printed: "ISPA and Nike swoosh logo" (pull tab on upper)
Object number
AIBDC : 009459