Fashion’s been skewing sporty for several seasons. Now, Nike is completing the cycle.
With the news of its just-released collaboration with Japanese label Sacai, the Swoosh is putting its most fashionable foot forward.
Tapping into the current climate of disruption, the partnership is looking to shake things up by reworking classic silhouettes, redefining the line between stylish and sportswear.
“I’ve always been inspired by classics,” said Chitose Abe, Sacai’s founder and designer. “Working with traditional silhouettes and ideas that often come from utility or performance-based sportswear, I’m interested in creating new hybrids that combine different fabrics and shapes to create an unexpected yet wearable result.”
Abe is known for her use of contrasting textures and an intelligent blend of masculine and feminine, so her NikeLab venture looks to represent this aesthetic in full: Model Binx wears a blue-and-lime green motif with matching footwear here.
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Sacai has developed a steady customer base since launching in 1998. The label, beloved for its distinct prints and flattering silhouettes, will present its fall ’15 line during Paris Fashion Week.
Nike’s no stranger to fashion friendships. In 2014, the label’s Air Jordan line joined forces with NY label Public School to create a pair of black leather sneakers with speckled soles.
And Nike’s not the only athletic label in the mix. Adidas, too, has a longtime relationship with style, thanks to its partnerships with Stella McCartney, Mary Katrantzou, Raf Simons, Jeremy Scott and Rick Owens.
NikeLab x Sacai goes on sale internationally on March 19.
