Material Matters: How Nylon Changed the (Sneaker) World

With rock stars like BOOST and VaporMax dominating performance footwear conversations, it can be easy to overlook the nuances of a runner’s upper. But when you break it down, the technology of topside materials has come just as far as soles have – if not further – over the past 100 years or so. Form, fit, flexibility, breathability and of course aesthetic charm are all characteristics of an appropriate material. So just how did we get from cowhide to Flyknit? It’s all due to one special little fibre. Strap yourself in, it’s time to talk about nylon.