Nike Foamposite Shoes
The Nike Foamposite line debuted in 1997 and was created by Eric Avar, leader of Nike’s Advanced Product Engineering group. Avar sought to find the next big thing in sneakers, leading him to foot-molding, liquid polyurethane. His contemporaries considered his idea crazy, but with a little help from Daewoo, a Korean car manufacturer, the Foamposite was created. Anfernee “Penny” Hardaway had his signature line at the time, but he was mesmerized by silhouette during a meeting with Avar and unofficially became the spokesperson moving forward. Nike created two iterations of the Foamposite— the Foamposite Pro, which featured a Swoosh on the side, and the Foamposite One without a Swoosh. Check out some iconic Foamposite One and Foamposite Pro colorways here.
Originally released on February 1, 1997, the Nike Air Foamposite was designed by Eric Avar, a Nike Creative Director and designer who has had a hand in numerous other influential Nike models. The Air Foamposite, though, stands out in Avar's portfolio for its unique, futuristic design and the groundbreaking manufacturing process that birthed it.
The Air Foamposite was initially priced at $180, a cost that reflected the advanced technology and unique design of the shoe. Since then, the price of the Foamposite has steadily increased due to its popularity and rarity, with current retail prices often ranging from $230 to $250 for a new pair. Limited edition colorways and collaborations can often fetch even higher prices.
The Air Foamposite was revolutionary for its time and continues to be influential today. It is named for its unique upper material, a lightweight and durable foam composite that can be molded to the wearer's foot. This "Posite" technology was a major innovation in 1997 and set the stage for many of Nike's future technological advancements.
One notable model within the Foamposite line is the Nike Air Foamposite Pro, which debuted shortly after the original Foamposite. The Foamposite Pro features the same foam composite upper but with a few key differences: most notably, the addition of a large Nike Swoosh on the side, and a slightly different lacing system. The Foamposite Pro also tends to come in different colorways than the original Foamposite.
The Foamposite line has been renowned for its distinctive and often bold colorways. The original "Dark Neon Royal" colorway, famously worn by NBA player Anfernee "Penny" Hardaway, is one of the most recognized. However, many other memorable colorways have been released over the years, such as "Eggplant", "Copper", and "Black Anthracite". In 2012, Nike released the "Galaxy" Foamposite as part of the All-Star game lineup, which featured a print resembling outer space and became one of the most sought-after releases in the line's history. Find every Nike Foamposite and the latest news on Foams right here on Sole Retriever!
