Going all the way back to the invention of Air cushioning technology, for The Swoosh, innovation is nothing new. In recent years, we’ve seen new ways to manufacture garments, an aim for recycled content making up more and more products, and now, Nike introduces the world to B.I.L.L. Instead of replacing your old footwear with a brand new pair, bring your used AF1s, AJ 1s, Space Hippie 01s, and Nike Dunks down to Nike Town London during the rest of September and have the Bot Initiated Longevity Lab clean them for you.
With its debut at the aforementioned Nike Town London, The Swoosh is fulfilling its circular vision as this tool will allow product life to be extended while utilizing sustainable practices in its cleaning process. The machine is constructed with advanced robotics and AI with a relatively simple process in order to determine how to clean each shoe. Once loaded into the machine, the sneaker gets scanned and turned into a 3D model with all of its flaws, allowing the AI to determine the areas in which to clean. For sneakers with more wear-and-tear, B.I.L.L. can even place various Nike-branded recycled polyester patches atop these worn-down areas. Taking about 45 mins to complete cleaning an Air Force 1, once B.I.L.L. finishes the job, employees will then add a new insole and lace set made from recycled materials to give the sneaker an even fresher appearance and feel.
As stated previously, B.I.L.L. will be available to use at Nike Town London for the rest of September. For those local to the area, the service is currently free of charge as this is still in the pilot phase. Once data and insights are learned when the pilot ends, Nike will go back and continue to experiment with B.I.L.L. and other services to continue to innovate on sustainable footwear practices, like the already established Nike Refurbished and Nike Recycling. For more updates on the latest in sneakers, streetwear, and more, keep it locked to our Twitter and the Sole Retriever mobile app.
Images via NIke
