Nike has unveiled B.I.L.L. (Bot Initiated Longevity Lab), a robot-augmented system that is said to clean and repair shoes with selected customizations. By using advanced robotics, combined with old-school handcraft, water-based cleaning products and recycled polyester patches, B.I.L.L. is currently capable of extending the life of Nike sneaker models, including the Air Force 1, Air Jordan 1, Space Hippie 01, and Nike Dunks. The robot creates a three-dimensional digital model of the shoe and pinpoints detailed areas of cleaning on the upper, the sidewalls and the outsole. Customers can then select patches to repair areas of wear-and-tear on the upper of their shoe. Once the robot has finished with the shoes – the process takes about 45 minutes to process a pair of Air Force 1 – Nike store athletes add new liners and laces made from recycled materials. The experiment is debuting at Nike Town London, located at 236 Oxford Street. During the time it is available there, the service will be free of charge for shoppers. B.I.L.L. is part of Nike’s commitment to promoting a more circular future. It joins other sustainable services that the brand has launched with the same purpose of helping protect the planet, including Nike Recycling & Donation, Nike Refurbished and tutorial videos that help consumers repair and restore their favorite footwear.
