NIKE vision's one-piece sunglasses create uninterrupted scope of vision and perception

NIKE vision’s one-piece sunglasses create uninterrupted scope of vision and perception
all images courtesy of NIKE vision

more than two years ago, NIKE vision challenged itself to reinvent eyewear for athletes. without a great variety of innovation in the performance eyewear field, designers started from scratch and focussed solely on the athlete. sleek and ultralight, NIKE’s latest sunglasses combine unprecedented lens materials with angles designed for speed. a one-piece model provides uninterrupted views and protective coverage, whether runners are on the trail or the track. the seamless views and coverage helps protect from all the elements.

video courtesy of NIKE vision

‘we wanted to empower the athlete through fit, through form, through material, and through engineering – through just the psychology of wearing them, ‘ explains leslie muller, VP of design at marchon, NIKE vision. ‘basically, we tore down silos and we brought the greatest minds together and talent together, to really solve a very sticky problem. throw away all those preconceived notions of what a frame is.’

NIKE vision’s ‘tailwind swift’

NIKE teamed up with zeiss optics to provide extraordinary clarity for an uninterrupted scope of vision and accurate perception. the glasses are produced in a custom mold with a virtually flawless surface. the team used wind tunnel techniques to create lenses cut with aerodynamic angles that drastically reduce wind resistance. soft rubber channels on the inside of the temple arms increase airflow, wipe away sweat and prevent slipping by gripping skin as runners heat up.

‘your eyes are what leads the body. they are the most fundamental thing. they are your interface between you and the world,’ continues carl allen, senior manager of design at marchon, NIKE vision. ‘we really tried to capture the essence of who they are, the emotion behind what they do and so, movement, flow, capturing an athlete in motion and freezing it in time. our ethos is always about the simple. if it doesn’t help the athlete, get rid of it.’

the ‘vaporwing elite’