THE CANADIAN PRESS
NEW ORLEANS — Steve Nash’s new basketball shoes are pure trash. And he’s proud of it.
The environmentally conscious Phoenix Suns star unveiled his new Nike “Trash Talk” shoe at this weekend’s all-star game, and it’s made entirely of manufactured scraps.
“I think it’s a great project,” Nash said. “I think it’s great for creating awareness, and whether this shoe goes a long way toward curbing global warming or not, it’s the idea, it’s a step in the right direction if you will, and I’m excited about that.”
He wore the shoes Saturday for the Western Conference team’s practice in preparation for Sunday’s NBA all-star game.
The shoe is modelled after Nash’s current shoe, the Nike Zoom BB II, and sells for about US$100.
Nike says the Trash Talk is the first performance basketball shoe made from recycled materials.
The 34-year-old Nash said Nike approached him about the idea.
“I think they followed the fact that my foundation and myself personally has been interested in conserving, and being careful of carbon footprint and all the different things that are a threat to our planet and its sustainability,” Nash said. “So they asked me if I was into because of all the other things I’ve into, and I said Of course.”‘
The shoe’s top is constructed from leather and synthetic leather waste from the factory floor. The midsole uses scrap-ground foam from factory production, while the outer sole uses a type of environmentally-friendly rubber that reduces toxins.
The shoes, of course, come packaged in a recyclable cardboard box.
“I think it’s exciting,” Nash said. “I think it also sets a precedent for the future, not only for Nike but for other companies to explore conserving, reusing and recycling.”
Nike, based in Beaverton, Ore., said the shoe meets its “considered design standards” in terms of durability.
