The Premier | Nike's First Boot Model Reborn - Football Boots

The new Nike Premier has been a refreshingly retro blast of tradition for boot enthusiasts. Weaving modern characteristics into a classic throwback template Nike have create a brilliantly nostalgic boot with a nod to their past. We've taken a look back at two of Nike's earliest boot models of which the brand took direct inspiration from during the design process of the The Premier.

The first ever football boots to feature the famous swoosh were 'The Nike' created in 1971 and a boot called the 'Nike Striker' which followed the original in 1976. The Premier has been designed as a tribute to these landmark boots but includes technology to allow them to compete in the modern game. Basically they don't weigh a ton like the old ones!
 

We've got hold of the Nike Striker and put it side to side with the new Premier to see exactly where Nike were drawing their inspiration from when designing the latter. Visually the Premier has taken guidance from the Striker's swoosh that wraps around the back of the heel and 'The Nike' white soleplate. Nike have carved out the best aspects in each boot and placed them on the Premier to land a boot that's the ultimate testimonial to where the story first began.





Phil McCartney, Vice-President of Nike Football Footwear explained "We wanted the Premier to have a simple visual design but for it to be bold and, stylistically, carry a lot of Nike Football DNA. There are players out there who want a beautiful black leather boot that delivers a great fit and a ultra-soft touch on the ball." 





 The Nike DNA is there to be seen on the Premier, the upper is made from natural leather, the dominant white swoosh is stitched on both the instep and outstep on the boot, even the minor details are drawn from the Striker boot, including the orange swoosh on the tongue. Orange has always been part of Nike's DNA, the colour features on the the brand's shoe boxes and Nike continue that trend with the inside of the Premier. 



The Premier is streamline, lightweight and more detailed than the early Nike models but the difference between the Premier and the other current Nike silos is that it's lovingly wrapped up in classic Nike branding to fabricate a boot that looks like it belongs in the archive but is more than at home on the football pitch.







The renovation on the Premier and the progress it has made from 1971 to the current date has been carefully thought through at every move by Nike. The upper of the Striker has been replaced by a cleaner cut eliminating any ridges on the boot and the soleplate of the Striker, which by the looks of it could generate a pretty monstrous toe punt, has been replaced by a closer fitted design.

It's a beautiful sight to put them together and a timely reminder that amongst modern colourways brands still remember their cherished roots.

If you missed the full reveal of the Nike Premier you can check it out here. Tempted to go old school for the new season? Join the conversation online, on Twitter and on Facebook.