B R I G HT
OUR RESIDENT SNEAKERHEAD FROM NYC BRINGS YOU THE LATEST IN VEGAN SNEAKER CULTURE Before
there
was
“Circularity”,
there
was
“Considered”.
However (and this is a much larger story...), they accomplished a tremendous amount within that shortcoming, and this is the point I’m trying to make.
As always, it’s an honor to be provided a platform
I look to Nike to lead the conversation in their design
to communicate ideas on mindful consumption,
principles because of how massive they are, but it
so here are some real-time thoughts on what’s
doesn’t actually start there, it starts here. In our local
percolating in my ecosystem.
communities and in our communication online... In this latest offering, we are being equipped with the
In 2019 Nike rolled out “Circularity: Guiding the
knowledge that Nike has gained with their abundant
Future of Design”, a workbook crafted to provide
resources. I’ve always been concerned about
designers and product creators with a common
information accessibility and whether it is being
language for circularity. The initiative neatly lays out
given to communities and designers who really need
10 key principles in a digestible, thought-provoking
it. Too often, the information is kept at a distance
format. It’s free, it’s shareable, it contains big ideas,
and small companies struggle to unlock a path to
and it’s an essential roadmap for the future...but I
sustainability in their own practice, largely because
feel like we’ve been here before and I hope we don’t
the process is extremely challenging to implement
end up here again, and here’s what I mean:
and understand without help.
In 2005, Nike launched their first shoe under the
I recently went to an “Earth Symposium” hosted by
moniker: “Considered”, a project spawned from a
Sustainable Brooklyn, here in NYC. The afternoon
company wide training program that was launched
offered up conversations with local farmers, local
in 2000 and centered around product sustainability
designers, wellness experts, and an array of
and sustainability metrics. While the project was
sustainability
developing, NIke found that it was slow-moving
issues within our local community... and that
and complicated to implement with manufacturers
dialogue is as important as what Nike is doing. The
across the globe. The initiative sparked a small
solutions to the challenges we face are not located
revolution within footwear and inspired designers
all the way “out there”, they are truly right here...
with innovative ideas like water-based cements,
within reach. As an outcome of the symposium I was
interlocking components that required no toxins
reminded to stay focused on both, and to make a
or bonding, and in some cases the use of fully
daily impact by choosing to “vote” with my dollar (or
recycled materials to create a sneaker. They tried
pounds) on products that I believe in. Some of those
to set the gold standard of environmentally-friendly
purchases involve the local businesses I support,
execution, and, sadly, they did not ultimately
but they also touch my purchases on a large scale
achieve their version.
with brands like Nike. Every action counts.
professionals
tackling
actionable
THE AIR