In these times when the world is pushing for more inclusiveness in every sphere, Nike has come up with something very innovative. They have designed an ‘easy on, easy off’ shoe, meaning it is a hands-free shoe that can be very helpful for an athlete who finds it difficult ‘getting in and out of their shoes’.

According to recent news from Nike, this shoe project was on radar for more than three years for designer Tobie Hatfield. And then he was influenced by one Matthew Walzer. Walzer was planning for his junior high school year in 2012, but his major concern was the inability to tie and untie his shoes. 

As per reports on the Nike News website, he was “born two months early” with ‘underdeveloped lungs that led to cerebral palsy.’ And although he overcame many of his physical difficulties that the doctors predicted, it remained a struggle for him to tie his shoes, since he had flexibility in only one hand.

And that’s just what inspired Walzer to write to Nike. Titled ‘Against All Odds’, the letter read: “…I have overcome many challenges in my life. Although doctors from the country’s top hospitals told my parents that I would never walk; and if I ever talked I would have a major lisp, these diagnoses proved to be false, I walk somewhat independently around my home and use crutches when I’m out or at school. I’ve also never had a speech problem. In fact, I am planning on attending college…”

Walzer ended the letter by saying that he has “always been searching the web for any type of shoe brand that makes athletic shoes that provide good support, are self-lacing and are made for everyday wear or for playing sports”.

As the letter reached Hatfield, he reached out to Walzer and began to develop prototypes. Hatfield said that Walzer “was an absolute joy to work with.” In 2012, Nike handed Walzer a Hatfield design for test wear, for which he said, “…a shoe that I can put on myself for the first time in my life. When I put the shoes on every morning, they give the greatest sense of independence and accomplishment I have ever felt in my life.”

But Hatfield wasn’t entirely done, he was eager to provide an even better solution for Walzer and many other such athletes with similar difficulties. And few years later, it led to the development of Nike ‘FlyEase’. According to the report, FlyEase “introduces a wrap-around zipper solution that opens the back of the shoe near the heel counter, making it easier to slide the foot in and out. At the same time, the system provides sufficient lockdown and eliminates the need to tie traditional laces. At the same time, the system provides sufficient lockdown and eliminates the need to tie traditional laces”.

Here’s how the shoes look like: 

The shoes are being praised for a new kind of innovation that fits not just for adaptive sports, but also for everyone else! They will be “primarily available through invitation to exclusive Nike Members, with broad customer availability planned for later this year.”