At its core, Nike, Inc. continues being a running company. The Oregon-based institution has expanded its dominance across a plethora of other sports, but it continues to innovate for a number of distances, while also repacking running heritage for fashion purposes. Some efforts are faithful reissues of past products, while others create entirely new designs. Case in point?: The AVA Rover, a street-ready style set to debut via a collaboration with South Korea's HYEIN SEO.
Previewed at an intimate event hosted by Nike Seoul, the special project is rooted in HYEIN SEO's "dystopian design influence and rebellious charm," as mentioned in a product description for the collab. The silhouette sits atop a robust ReactX midsole, which also appears on some of the latest Nike Running sneakers.
At quick glance, the AVA Rover resembles the short-lived Space Hippie 04 from 2020. Closer inspection, however, reveals more to the impending launch.
The mixed-materials upper features design elements reminiscent of innovative styles like the Air Superfly, a silhouette that's recently been reissued as part of its 25th anniversary. The half closest to the midsole take on a "deconstructed" finish achieved by what seems like plastic layers.
Tooling underfoot indulges in a similar aesthetic as the pixel-reminiscent touch, donning a concave presentation across the sides. HYEIN SEO's AVA Rover collaborations opt for tonal finishes, but upcoming inline styles play with two-tone color-blockings that make the bold ReactX cushioning pop more.
Despite its running-informed elements, Nike's newest silhouette is designed for casual use. Ample padding is found on and around the tongue, ensuring wearers don't have to sacrifice comfort when getting a 'fit off—whether rocking the South Korean collaborator's gear or other streetwear brands.
Underfoot, the outsole features a tread pattern that harkens back to some of Bill Bowerman's important running footwear designs. The partly-recycled rubber features cut-outs throughout the center, revealing the aforementioned ReactX foam.
Enjoy early images of both HYEIN SEO's project and general releases of the Nike AVA Rover ahead. The former should launch soon, whereas the latter is expected to hit Nike.com by the beginning of autumn.
For more sneaker news, check out the latest from the ASICS SportStyle division.
