Nike and LBJ have officially created the world’s first Nike basketball sneaker without the need for laces, and it’s all thanks to one young man’s incredible letter.
You might know Matthew Walzer from the viral letter he wrote to Nike CEO Mark Parker in 2012. His letter, accompanied by the hashtag #NIKELETTER, was everywhere on social media of all sorts.
Walzer’s request to Parker was a simple one: He needed an easier way to put his shoes on by himself.
This wasn’t Walzer, 16 at the time, being lazy. Walzer has cerebral palsy and he didn’t want his parents to have to come with him to college to perform a simple task like tying his shoes every day.
Matthew’s letter was both informative and heartbreaking (click here to read the whole thing), and instantly spread like wildfire. Once word reached those in charge over at Nike, they couldn’t help but invest their time and energy into creating a perfectly comfortable, stylish sneaker that a disabled person may put on by themselves.
The beauty in their design is that the back of the heel unravels for someones foot to slip in and out easily, but it also provides enough security and comfort around the heel.
I highly recommend watching this quick 5 minute video to better understand how this project came to life and how LeBron James became an integral component in completing Matthew Walzer’s dream.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TaNM_T1d1as
H/T theSportingNews