The dealers once again managed to ruin a version for people who actually wanted the shoe, but this time it’s a little different.

The sneaker in question is Nike’s very first hands-free sneaker, which, thanks to dealers, is no longer affordable for those who need it most.

The Nike GO Flyease was released in February, becoming the Swoosh’s first truly accessible sneaker. Thanks to a tensioner, essentially a giant elastic above the midsole, the shoe is able to snap into and out of the wearer’s foot without them having to bend, tie laces, or adjust the sneaker. with his hands.

The hands-free shoe was designed to make life easier for people with disabilities – a population too often under-represented in the sneaker industry.

To make matters worse, the sneaker innovation launched with an affordable price tag of $ 120. Still, if you’re in the market to buy a pair of Nike GO Flyeases now, be prepared to pay over $ 600.

Louie “notlewy” viral TikTok video shows just how appalling these price hikes are. “The shoe itself was so publicized and praised for its inclusiveness and accessibility for people with disabilities like me that it became limited, and the dealers and robots grabbed all the pairs and jacked up the price. “, he added. he says in the clip.

However, the resellers are not the only ones to be responsible for the situation in which we find ourselves. After all, resellers only act on supply and demand, and judging by the resale prices of the sneakers, the supply was very limited.

As Nike often does with new models, the hands-free shoe was initially discontinued in a limited run, with a larger version to follow the line. It was catnip to the feline instincts of the dealers, as they grabbed the shoe and quickly listed it for almost six times the retail price.

This has made some wonder why Nike would release a limited supply of what is supposed to be an accessible shoe. Wasn’t the goal of the GO Flyease to give previously excluded or disadvantaged people easier access to sneakers? Was it all a performative activism?

There is certainly some blame to be blamed on Nike’s feet, although you don’t think the version was used primarily as a marketing tool. The point is that people who want the shoe because they need the shoe can’t get it right now.

On the flip side, Nike has promised a larger version of the silhouette, so maybe anyone who wants a pair will eventually get one. Moreover, one could argue that the first truly accessible sneaker, so publicized and so successful, sends a message to Nike and all of its sportswear competitors: there is a demand for accessible and inclusive sneakers. If brands are smart, they will seek to meet this demand as soon as possible.