Nike Air Classic BW Gen II – Torch – Spring 2010

You know SSD is all about the technology and concepts behind sneakers no matter what brand they are. If you have been following us over the past year we have shown you all Nike innovation behind their FREE, Considered, and Flywire technology in multiple shoes that have released over the past 2 years. This time around we briefly touched on the new concept which they are call "Torch." Players like Rasheed Wallace asked for this material to be placed on his very own game worn shoes (Air Force 1 High) and is giving it nothing but great reviews so far.

It’s a three layered ‘mesh’ that piles a diamond-like lattice over top of a middle grid layer, both of which sit atop a moisture-wicking base. So it’s only natural that Torch will continue to pop up on your favourite models including the Air Force 1, the Air Maxim 1, and the Nike Ar Max BW, to create new styles that feature Nike's newest technological innovation. It’s a technologically advanced fabric, but there’s less of it, so Torch is in line with the huge 2010 for Nike Considered Designs. Read more below taken directly from the forums about the new advancement from Nike. Oh...by the way Nike...we are still waiting on the check! LOL.

TORCH—LIGHTWEIGHT AND BREATHABLE INNOVATION ENABLES NEW SHAPE AND NEW FORM

In preparation for a summer of football, the Nike Sportswear footwear design team joined forces with Nike Football to explore the needs of some of the world’s greatest footballers when they leave the field of play. Focused on solving the needs of the athletes, the result is a technical solution called Torch

TORCH AND AIR MAX BW GEN II

At Nike, innovation is a process of creating new spaces in which to address athletes’ needs and improve their performance. When considering how Nike Sportswear could enhance the post-match experience for athletes, the footwear design team adopted a cut-the-weight, lose-the-bulk mindset gleaned from performance football boot design to arrive at a new technical innovation—Torch. . Torch is a lightweight, moisture-managing, supremely comfortable three-layer textile. The outer layer features a visually stunning, protective diamond pattern that holds its shape and won’t crease at stress points like traditional materials. The middle layer offers a lightweight structural element that stands up to a post-match cool-down or an active day around town. The inner layer provides moisture-managing breathability to keep the foot cool and allow for a period of rest after a game.

Torch has also been integrated into several classic Nike silhouettes for Spring/Summer 2010. The Air Max BW Gen II, Air Force 1 and Air Maxim 1 all get the Torch treatment, as well as technical enhancements such as welded uppers and natural motion soles. The Air Max BW Gen II was originally introduced in 1991 and has been a cult favorite of runners and sneakerheads ever since.

What may not be apparent upon first view of the Air Max BW Gen II is the Nike Considered design principle of its construction. Based on the idea of modularity, the Torch Air Max has been developed so that numerous mid-sole models from the Air Max family can easily be integrated into the production line, eliminating waste and inefficiency.