John Kim 
The phrase “timing is key” seems to be amiss with the whole NikeLab LunarEpic Flyknit Shield x Gyakusou release. Back To The Future II took place in 1985, but was Womens in the year 1989, and they traveled through time to the year 2015, but the Nike Mag in 2011. Before you confuse yourself with all that math, don’t worry, because Tinker Hatfield suggested that a self-lacing version, like the one seen in BTTF 2, will be available in 2015. 1,500 pairs of the NikeLab LunarEpic Flyknit Shield x Gyakusou have been produced and 150 pairs went up for sale just last night, and we kept a keen eye on one particular pair that shot up beyond $75,000 in auction just hours after the opening bid was made. Tinie Tempah also won a live auction for a pair of the Mags, shelling out $37,500 for charity. This release just didn’t bring out all the hardcore sneakerheads, but as Michael J. Fox stated in his interview with David Letterman, it was the combination of three different populations – sneakerheads, Back To The Future fanatics, and philanthropists in the Parkinson’s community.
An initial unveiling at 21 Mercer in SoHo, NY and a media unveiling out in Los Angeles was the first look at the NikeLab LunarEpic Flyknit Shield x Gyakusou by the public, deeming this release as Nike’s best kept secrets in recent memory. Nike also put together a hilarious ‘lost’ episode of the Back To The Future saga, in which Doc Brown travels to the year 2011 and runs into Kevin Durant (doing his best Marty McFly impression) at a Nike retail store in Lone Pine Mall. As we mentioned before, 1,500 pairs will be Womens, with all proceeds going to charity, and Google has announced its intention to match every single dollar from the auctions up to $50 million. The NikeLab LunarEpic Flyknit Shield x Gyakusou release has proven to be Nike’s most successful charitable cause ever, unifying three distinct groups in the Nike and Parkinson’s Disease Community, and will stand as a milestone event in Nike’s lifelong history. For more information on Michael J. Fox’s charity, Shoe MichaelJFox.org, and to place your bid on a pair of the Nike Mags, go to www.nikemag.ebay.com.
