[pageLogInLogOut]

#Retail & Brands

Propulsion and protection: Nike unveils the LeBron XXI

The LeBron XXI is built for basketball’s next generation. LeBron didn’t need to look very far to find his muse for the shoe: his 8-year-old daughter, Zhuri. Inspired by the notion of protection for the modern player, the shoe’s upper is inspired by an oyster shell, protecting the pearl inside.

What to know

• The LeBron XXI evolves the low-cut profile of the LeBron XX with premium lightweight materials modeled after the properties of an oyster shell. The shoe is built to serve the next generation and is inspired by LeBron’s daughter, Zhuri.

• Underfoot, the shoe features a Zoom Turbo unit in the forefoot; a bottom-loaded, 13-millimeter Zoom unit in the heel; and a full-length Cushlon 2.0 foam carrier.


Using lightweight materials, the upper’s venting is striated to look like the veining of a shell, helping contain the player during explosive movements. That containment is visualized by a lightweight mono-mesh reinforced by 360 degrees of zonal cables around the midfoot, helping support and secure the player over the footbed. Perforations on the medial Swoosh provide enhanced breathability. Underfoot, the shoe features a Zoom Turbo unit in the forefoot and a bottom-loaded, 13-millimeter Zoom unit to support propulsion. A full-length Cushlon 2.0 foam carrier for a pillowy feel and a TPU midfoot shank provides stability and extra pop for dynamic movements.

“As we took our next steps from the LeBron XX, we were inspired by the way LeBron maintains his body and his game during the offseason,” says Jason Petrie, Lead Designer for the LeBron XXI. “His trainer says it's like taking care of an F1 car. You tweak the car between each race. You don’t need to rebuild the car completely. We wanted to retain some of the elements we know he loved, like the Zoom Turbo unit, but refine some of the finishes in the upper.”




The shoe features other qualities inspired by an oyster shell. Exposed construction on the foxing gives a shell-like appearance The perforated foam tongue is quilted, also imitating a shell’s appearance and providing a plush feel. 

LeBron XXI © 2023 Nike
LeBron XXI © 2023 Nike


The LeBron XXI, available in full family sizing, releases globally beginning September 28.



More News from Nike

More News on Retail & Brands

#Textiles & Apparel / Garment

Global size study for brands and retailers to optimize fit and market coverage

Hohenstein Apparel Fit Solutions, a global leader in apparel fit, sizing, and product development, today announces the launch of its Global Size Study, a new initiative designed to equip brands to better understand and serve their target consumers through more accurate, market-relevant sizing.

#Recycling / Circular Economy

Recover™ secures multi-year recycled cotton agreement with H&M

Recover™ has signed a multi-year agreement with H&M to support the integration of its recycled cotton fiber, RCotton, for use in H&M’s products. Since early 2024, H&M and Recover™ have collaborated on product development, which now enables scaled commercial introduction of Recover™ mechanically recycled cotton into H&M’s collections.

#Sustainability

GORE-TEX® KIDSWEAR launches innovative membership scheme for kids’ jackets

With its revolutionary new membership model, GORE-TEX® Kidswear now offers families a simple, flexible and sustainable way of kitting out their children in top-quality jackets. It is aimed at the parents of children aged between five and ten and kicks off with a choice of functional winter jackets.

#Sustainability

H&M Foundation funds pioneering initiative to build the factories of the future

The H&M Foundation is committing SEK 53 million (approx. EUR 5 million) towards Future Forward Factories, a five-year initiative led by Fashion for Good, to address fashion’s most polluting stage: tier 2 textile processing.

Latest News

#Man-Made Fibers

Textile Exchange publishes comprehensive polyester LCA study

Textile Exchange has released a new Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) study on polyester, providing detailed data on the environmental impacts of both virgin and recycled polyester production. The study aims to strengthen understanding across the fashion, textile and apparel industries and support more informed decision-making regarding polyester sourcing and production.

#Textiles & Apparel / Garment

Autopsy, the new trend book by Texworld Apparel Sourcing Paris, deciphers the fractures of our time through 12 creative signals

Presented during Texworld Apparel Sourcing Paris, from August 31 to September 2, 2026, at the Paris-Le Bourget Exhibition Center, Autopsy offers a reinterpretation of the contours of fashion in a world undergoing profound transformation, balancing radical introspection and sensitive renewal.

#Associations

Keeping products moving with Swedish automation at FILTECH 2026

At FILTECH 2026, taking place in Cologne from June 30th to July 2nd, members of TMAS – the Swedish textile machinery association – will highlight how the country’s engineering expertise is enabling filtration manufacturers to increase productivity, improve traceability and reduce dependence on labour-intensive manual processes.

#ITM 2026

Global Mmeeting of textile technologies, ITM 2026, attracts great interest

ITM 2026, one of the world's most prestigious organizations in the field of textile technologies, opened its doors with the participation of over 1,000 companies and company representatives from 59 countries, as well as thousands of professional visitors from nearly 100 country. Attracting thousands of international visitors on its first day, ITM 2026 once again demonstrated its status as a global meeting point for the textile industry with its advanced technologies on display, newly established business connections, and record-breaking international participation.

TOP