Nike spokesman Brian Strong has revealed that the Beaverton-based brand’s priorities are shifting, leading to layoffs in the Digital Sport category. “As our Digital Sport priorities evolve, we expect to make changes within the team, and there will be a small number of layoffs. We do not comment on individual employment matters,” he told CNET.

This means that the team responsible for fitness wearables, the FuelBand in particular, is getting smaller. CNET’s report goes into even greater detail regarding the Digital Sport division and the recent layoffs via information from a person familiar with the matter:

Nike’s Digital Sport hardware team focused on areas like industrial design; manufacturing operations; electrical and mechanical hardware engineering; and software interface design. Products included not only the FuelBand but also the Nike+ sportwatch and other, more peripheral sport-specific initiatives.

Of those 70 employees, about 70 percent to 80 percent — or as many as 55 people — were let go, the person said, asking not to be identified because the information was confidential. Some of the employees will be staying on at Nike through May. It’s unclear how many current employees, if any, have been internally recruited to join other Nike divisions. Nike Digital Tech, responsible for Web software, was not affected.

For now, the Nike+ FuelBand SE will stay on shelves, but for the most part, the brand will focus on fitness and athletic software rather than hardware. With the recent launch of the Nike+ Fuel Lab in San Francisco, Nike already has an incubator for future FuelBand successors that will operate within the Nike+ ecosystem, and they are also set to publicly release an API this fall. Analysts also think a partnership between Nike and Apple is a no-brainer, with Apple hardware ultimately supporting Nike software.

Are you sad to hear the the FuelBand may soon be leaving shelves, or are you excited about the possibility of new products incorporating Nike+ and NikeFuel technology? Let us know in the comments.

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Compound‘s first collection of in-house cut and sew apparel, Tabor, is set to release this weekend in Portland. The lookbook for the line not only highlights the quality collection of contemporary streetwear, but also features a preview of upcoming adidas footwear, including the adidas Element Refine, the Pure Boost and a promo version of the Consortium ZX Flux. The line, which is manufactured in Portland, includes a Reflective Jogger Pant, Constructed Longsleeve Top and City of Roses Coach’s Jacket, as well as two t-shirts with graphics inspired by the Rose City’s style and heritage. Before the collection launches at Compound Gallery tonight, check out the images from the lookbook below, which were shot by photographer Yulia Nidbalskaya. Also, be sure to follow @tabor_made on Instagram for all the latest from Tabor by Compound.

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No highly exaggerated lines here, but the Bait x ASICS “BASICS Model-003 Nippon Blues” is a dope collaborative sneaker between powerhouse brands Bait and ASICS. This third sneaker from the “BASICS” collection has a name that sounds more fitting for a car, but we are thrilled to know that the design inspiration for the sneaker is no other than Bait’s collaborative partner.

The brand paid tribute to ASICS with the shoe by channeling its partner’s renowned history in Japan. The sneaker features an upper made from suede that is drenched in dark navy hue. Complementing the dark color are the red accents and white mini splattered paint details. Rounding up the look of the sneaker are the indigo kasuri textile underlay and the Hickory footbed lining. If you are interested to cop a pair of this history-inspired shoe, then better get your breads ready on April 29^th to May 1^st.

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Saucony offers us a look at their new sneaker partnered alongside Offspring. The Offspring x Saucony Shadow 6000 “Running Since ’96″ features the classic Saucony silhouette rendered in two refreshing colorways. Straightforward and to the point, the sneaker comes packed with savvy details as it is constructed with premium suede material.

Women sneakerheads will be delighted to know that the sneaker comes in full unisex sizes, which is a first for Saucony’s collaborative sneakers. The Offspring x Saucony Shadow 6000 “Running Since ’96″ will retail for $120 at US sneaker shops on April 19^th.

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Tailored for flight and featuring a Flight Weave upper for a personalized fit, here’s your first look at the Air Jordan XX9 via @DarrenRovell. Keep it locked to Nice Kicks for all the pertinent info regarding the latest Air Jordan, which is set to launch in September of this year and also includes Flight Plate technology.

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Nike SB‘s rendezvous with Eddie Huang and Baohaus NY has yielded an SB Dunk High, dubbed the “Chairman Bao,” and it is now seen here in detail. Similar to recent looks at the SB Dunk High, beige terry cloth-like suede drapes the upper, with white doing work as an accent on the laces, tongue and inner lining. Polarized blue creeps up on the outsole, with the color also touching upon the tongue tab. The Baohaus x Nike SB Dunk High “Chairman Bao” is now available at select Nike SB retailers.