Meet B.I.L.L., Nike's Robotic Sneaker Cleaner & Customiser

Ever seen that movie WALL.E? Imagine that, but with sneakers… Well, not quite. Fresh off the press today is the news that Nike has launched the first ever robot-augmented system designed to clean and customise sneakers. Named B.I.L.L. (Bot Initiated Longevity Lab), the system is part of the Swoosh’s initiative to help the brand move towards a more circular and sustainable future.

The robot is currently capable of extending the lifespan of multiple silhouettes, including Air Force 1s, Air Jordan 1s, Dunks and Space Hippie 01s. It works by creating a 3D digital model of a shoe once it’s inserted into the machine and pinpointing areas that need extra care or cleansing. By using a combination of old-school hand craft and water-based cleaning solutions, B.I.L.L. can have your tired sneakers looking as good as new once again.

Once the cleaning process is complete (B.I.L.L. takes around 45 minutes to process an AF1), the user can then decide to add new liners and laces made entirely of recycled materials, should they so please. Nike’s Sustainability Lead Noah Murphy-Reinhertz played a huge part in bringing B.I.L.L. to life, and when asked about the project he stated “the thing is, maintaining old products is deeply personal. People will go to great lengths to care for their favourite shoes. Repairing a product is a way to extend our memory with a product. We see B.I.L.L. as a tool for being able to do that."

Currently located in Nike Town London and available for members of the public to use throughout September, B.I.L.L. is totally free of charge for shoppers to use. Make sure to keep it locked in right here for more stories like this, and all of the latest sneaker and streetwear news as it happens.