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Nike and its earth-friendly footwear offerings from its “Move to Zero” initiative have been well-received from the market thus far, and so for Summer 2021, the Beaverton-based brand is building on its momentum by delivering even more iterations. The Swoosh has officially unveiled its warm weather lineup that includes the Air VaporMax 2021, the Nike Sportswear “Plant Cork” Pack and a crop of performance-focused models.The all-new Nike VaporMax 2021 isn’t all that different from its predecessor when scoping out its overall shape, but it is deemed as one of the Swoosh’s most sustainable propositions to-date given that it’s engineered with at least 55% recycled content. Full-length VaporMax Air units are created with 75% recycled materials while the outsoles implement Nike Grind and the TPU heel and toe tips are crafted with 60 percent recycled materials. Air Max Pre-Day and Air Max Genome makeups, both of which have been modified with recycled uppers are also tossed into the mix.Nike’s Sportswear division is also thrusting in a few colorways to the lineup including that of the Air Force 1, Blazer Mid and the Daybreak to form the “Plant Cork” Pack. Each take is manufactured with roughly 20% recycled content such as Recycled Poly Canvas, and comes mated with outsoles that are presented with 9% cork.Elsewhere in the lineup you’ll find the Nike Crater Impact — a brand new model that’s built with crater soles and 25% recycled uppers — more Cosmic Unity colorways, and sustainably made Air Zoom SuperRep 2 Next Nature and the Nike Victory G Lite variations.Expect all of these iterations to roll out over Summer 2021 via Nike and select retailers.For more footwear news, a Nike LeBron 18 Low “Greedy” colorway has surfaced.

Vault by Vans and Noon Goons have joined forces for a three-shoe capsule that epitomizes classic California cool. Both brands boast deep SoCal roots while toing the line between skate, surf, and several other West Coast subcultures, so their pairing is a serendipitous one — and it’s produced fresh takes on the Slip-On, Style 36 and Sk8-Hi, each with elevated materials and striking embellishments.The collection’s crown jewel is the Slip-On, a sleek silhouette that’s done up in rich crushed blue velvet with a black sole and a white Noon Goons hit embroidered on the back. Even the insoles are dashingly detailed, bosting Noon Goons’ signature leopard print. The Style 36 — Vans’ first ever silhouette with the now-iconic Jazz stripe — arrives in black and white with a stark black snakeskin base, Noon Goons script on the heel and crisp white accents on the midfoot and midsole. Lastly the Sk8-Hi retains the snakeskin-printed leather of the Style 36 but flips the color scheme, opting for black Jazz stripes and Noon Goons heel hits atop its white base. The Vault by Vans x Noon Goons collection is set to arrive at Vault by Vans stockists including Bodega, Wish, Concepts, Hirshleifers, Sneakersnstuff, Stashed, Blends, Sole Classics, Kith, Social Status, A Ma Maniere, Fice, Feature, Dover Street Market, Belmont Shore, Proper, Rooted, and Elden on April 15. Prices are set at $115 USD for the Slip-On, $125 USD for the Style 36 and $135 USD for the Sk8-Hi.

Artist Yu Nagaba has teamed with Converse Japan for two special takes on the famous Chuck Taylor All Star. Both of Nagaba’s high-top Chucks feature hand drawn details, and are part of Converse Japan’s “US Originator” series — which aims to recreate old-school Converse styles in true-to-the-original fashion. One of Nagaba’s Chucks is black with white; the other white with black. Each offers a full canvas upper with metallic silver eyelets and begins its special detailing on the medial collar’s All-Star patch, which is presented in a hand-drawn style. High-gloss rubber toe caps feature a “No Rain” text hit on the right foot and are left unaltered on the right foot.Further hand-drawn details replace the standard hits on the insole, size tag and heel badge alike. The midsole’s foxing strip is also done in DIY style, boasting inky blotches towards the heel and forefoot alike. Laces boast a repeating X pattern, and classic brown outsoles round off the look. Both styles are packaged in a custom shoebox, and Nagaba has also created a T-shirt with an illustration of a girl proudly wearing her Chucks.The Yu Nagaba x Converse Japan Chuck Taylor All-Star High collection is set to release on the Converse Japan webstore come April 19. The MSRP for the shoes is set at a tax-included ¥9,900 JPY (approximately $90 USD) and the t-shirt is priced at ¥6,380 JPY (approximately $58 USD), also inclusive of tax.Elsewhere in the world of Converse, check out Kim Jones’ duo of durable takes on the ever-popular Chuck 70 Hi.