Nike will create a sports bra using its footwear Flyknit technology

By

Emily Jensen

Published
Jul 12, 2017

For the first time, Nike will use the Flyknit technology frequently utilized in its shoes to make a new kind of sports bra. The brand is already considering transferring the technology to other apparel items.

 
Nike first debuted its Flyknit technology at the London 2012 Olympics with the Flyknit Racer shoe. The digital knitting process used to create the material allows for a lightweight, seamless and flexible upper to the shoe. Nike now uses the Flyknit material across multiple footwear designs, and for the first time has created a sports bra with the same technology.
 
Called the Fe/Nom Flyknit Bra, the new design is 30 percent lighter than other Nike sports bras and uses two panels and one seam, compared to typical sports bras which can be made of more than 40 pieces and 20 seams.

The new Flyknit bra includes a racerback design and a mix of encapsulation and compression to keep the chest in place during activity. The Flyknit material also allows the bra to remain breathable while still providing support.
 
“The goal of the Nike Fe/Nom Flyknit Bra was maximum support and comfort that would allow women to feel and look amazing while doing anything they choose,” Nike’s Senior Bra Innovation Designer Nicole Rendone said. “We prioritized support, breathability and cooling in essential zones.”
 
This is the first time Nike has used the technology in its apparel, and the brand already has plans to test it in other items of clothing.
 
Janett Nichol, Nike’s VP of apparel innovation, emphasized in a statement how a high-performance sports bra is crucial to female athletes across all sports. “This is bigger than a bra, really,” says Nichol. “It’s about breaking down the barriers women face in sports and life.”
 
The Nike Fe/Nom Flyknit bra launches today at Nike+, the brand’s membership program, followed by a launch on Nike.com on July 14.