Nobody could’ve imagined it would take 30 years to develop a concept shoe as part of a collaboration between Nike and a company known as Lifescaped, however the Nike Air Jordan 3 “RTNA” – or retina – is setting the bar high for even the most recognised designers in the sneaker world. If you head to the Shirley Sherwood Gallery of Botanical Arts then you might just catch a glimpse of the silhouette in a glass case, as the concept shoe is considered a work of art in its own right.
What makes these trainers so unique is their RTNA coating, which Nike states has been implemented across different ‘zones’ of the Air Jordan 3 silhouette and insists that it is the next big step in moving towards ‘a new future of colour’. The sneaker giants implement the colours directly onto the surface of the shoe and take care to avoid mixing it with any other materials, before sewing it into the pattern. Sporting an iridescent hue, the concept shoe strikes it lucky with colours of blue, lilac and lime green, and yet the Jumpman logo and heel tab remain untouched.
What we know for sure is that the RTNA coating makes use of a Pure Structural Colour technique from Lifescaped and is based on nature itself. Tiny microscopic structures produce a thin and transparent coating made from sulphur dioxide that can be distorted and sculpted to reflect certain lightwaves and produce a unique and specific outcome for the viewer without a dye in sight.
At just 1/100,000th of the thickness of a strand of hair, the material really does offer unlimited possibilities for the future of sneaker design and application. As of yet, the Nike Air Jordan 3 “RTNA” remains a concept shoe and won’t be hitting the market anytime soon, however we’re excited to see where the collaboration takes us in the future!
Many sneakerheads prefer to wear their sneakers rather than keep them on display, and the Laced resale market is a great place to give a pair of unwanted kicks a brand new home. Whether you’re obsessed with Air Jordans or need a regular fix from Ye and his team, the Laced resale market has everything and more you could hope for. Check it out today!