The One Pair of Sneakers Nike's COO Can't Stop Talking About

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(Image credit: Getty Images)

Nike hasn't always been known for its sustainable practices over the course of its 54-year history, but the brand is determined to make up for lost time. Speaking at the Copenhagen Fashion Summit, an informative two-day event about all things sustainability, Nike's COO Eric Sprunk highlighted one of the brand's most impressive recent achievements: its revolutionary Flyleather material, which is used in the Nike Flyleather Tennis Classic Sneakers ($85). 

"When it comes to our products, there is no tradeoff between minimizing our environmental impact and optimizing our performance," Sprunk told the audience at the Copenhagen Fashion Summit, which included a mix of top-brass executives, designers, journalists, fashion students, and more. "That's the idea behind Nike Flyleather. It's our new super material that has the potential to be as game-changing as Nike Flyknit." (Side note: Does anyone else own more Flyknit sneakers than they care to admit?)

Sprunk went on to explain exactly how the Flyleather material is different—and better—than Nike's standard selection. "With the look, fit, and feel of some of our most premium leathers, it uses significantly less water, has a lower carbon footprint, is five times more abrasion-resistant, and is 40% lighter. It's super material that uses recycled leather fibers as the basis for the material."

Intrigued? So were we. Scroll down to shop the sneakers in question, and stay tuned as the brand creates a wider variety of shoes with its revolutionary material. We'll be over here waiting not so patiently, Nike. 

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Watch Nike COO Eric Sprunk's Keynote at the Copenhagen Fashion Summit 

Erin Fitzpatrick
Senior News Editor

Erin got her start as a Who What Wear intern over 12 years ago—back when the site only published a single story per day. (Who What Wear has since increased that number twentyfold.) She graduated magna cum laude from USC, which is how she ended up moving to Los Angeles from her hometown of San Diego. In college, she also interned at Refinery29, where she was promoted to editorial assistant and then assistant editor. After nearly three years at R29, she came back to WWW in 2016, where she currently holds the title of senior news editor (as well as the unofficial title of resident royal expert—in case you haven't noticed her numerous Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton stories). She spends her days trying to incorporate her idols, Anna Wintour and Roger Federer, into as many stories as possible. Outside of work, she loves tennis, classic rock, traveling, and smothering her dog with affection.