Nike Free jumped off in 2004 providing a flexible alternative to the current state of footwear. Engineered by Tobie Hatfield, younger brother of Tinker Hatfield, the Free system allows for a more natural movement of the foot for runners. Since debuting for running shoes, Free has crossed over into other categories including Nike Training and Nike Basketball.
Nike Free has become an enormous category at Nike and has crossed over outside of sports into casual wear as part of the Nike Sportswear lineup. The Nike Free Powerlines has made waves since its introduction.
