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Disabled People Question Sportswear Brand Over Shoes Intended For The Handicapped

today6 May 2021

Background

Inclusive in design, but exclusive in release.

It was intended to be one of Nike’s most accessible sneakers when it was announced back in February. Unfortunately today it has become anything but. The new Nike Go FlyEase that launched in America this past week was proclaimed to be a hands-free shoe that could benefit everyone. However, not everyone can join in on hyped sneakers.

 

 

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Nike’s release in limited pairs (quantity not disclosed) meant that resellers took advantage of the shoe, attempting to make money off the secondary market.

“The shoe itself has been so hyped up and praised for its inclusiveness and its accessibility for people like myself with a disability that it’s become limited and resellers and bots have got ahold of all the pairs and gouged the price up,” said 19-year-old Louie Lingard in a TikTok reaction video that went viral over the weekend. “Now, if someone with a disability that actually needs the shoe for the design purpose wants it, they’re gonna have to pay on the up end of $500 (RM 2,059) to get it.”

@notlewy##stitch with @nowthis isn’t the current sneaker culture just great ? ##fypシ ##psa ##disability ##sneakers ##sneakerhead♬ SO FAR AWAY – ZØYA

The latest release of the FlyEase which retailed for just $120 (RM 494) is now reselling for several times more on reselling websites.

The story of this shoe releasing is same old same old. Every weekend some people might miss out on shoes they want and turn to the resale market as a solution. But the Go FlyEase IS unique (or was meant to be). Nike designed this one make it easier (in fact almost effortless) to put on or take off.

 

Photo via NIKE

 

However, if Nike really wants the shoe to achieve that goal, they’ll have to be more clear about their intention and curate the way they release it.

 

Photo via Stock X

 

Lingard believes resellers are the culprit for rushing to make a profit off the sneakers, but that Nike is the bigger shark for its failure to get more of the shoes to people with disabilities.

“I don’t want to completely attack reselling because we’ve all bought shoes for resell,” he clarifies. “It’s just something that you have to do when you’re into sneakers.”

 

 

So unfortunately the shoe that was meant to help the disabled, has somewhat failed due to it’s lack in accessibility and market price. Of course, we hope Nike fixes this problem in their future release when they intend to help a specific demographic. After all, no one should be left behind.

Photo Credit: Nike

 

Written by: Mifzal Malik


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today6 May 2021

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