Nike patents shoe steaming device

The steaming of Nike Flyknits is said to provide a better fit.

Nike has reportedly lodged a patent in the US Patent and Trademark Office for a machine to personalise the fit of its Flyknit shoes. According to Nike's patent application, the equipment is called the 'portable steaming system for articles of footwear' and is used to fit Flyknit shoes to an individual owner. After the footwear’s yarn material is subjected to hot steam within an enclosed device, the customer dons the footwear. At this time, the fabric is said to shrink, offering a more snug fit. Nike says that each shoe can be customised to accommodate any differences between the left and right foot.

This is not the first time steaming has been used on Nike Flyknit footwear. For a limited time in 2013, a similar machine was available in Nike's London and New York City flagship stores. When customers bought a pair of Flyknits, they could get them steamed for free.

Publishing Data

This article was originally published on page 3 of the November 2016 issue of SATRA Bulletin.

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