Nike partners with 5 huge designers ahead of the Tokyo Olympic Games
Images via Nike
Words by Ella Bazzani-Hockley
Five heads are better than one.
In anticipation of what will likely be the most fashionable and futuristic sporting phenomenon of the decade, Nike has released early specs of its Tokyo-inspired Olympic Games collection.
In celebration of Tokyo 2020, Nike has partnered with five celebrated creatives in an exploration of all things athleisure. The minds behind Off-White, AMBUSH, Undercover, sacai and ALYX have each had a hand in the collaboration, which is set to be released mid-year.
The brief was ‘sport-inspired’, and explores the inherent stylishness of sport and athletic apparel, heavily influenced by athleticism, functionality and movement.
Early product shots show vintage-look windbreakers, bright colours and branding. You’ll see what looks to be Virgil Abloh’s signature hand-drawn designs across Off-White’s contributions, and a vintage-inspired logo on Undercover’s classic half-zip style.
Japanese designers Yoon Ahn of AMBUSH, Jun Takahashi of Undercover, and Chitose Abe of sacai have approached Nike’s brief with a fashionably functional approach. Think light jackets you can wear all day, with lots of minimalist monochrome. Always one to take an innovative approach, Abloh’s Off-White capsule apparently pioneers the ‘self-ventilating half-zip’, which features an in-built fan.
Creative director of ALYX, Matthew Williams, employed an unconventional ‘computational’ design approach, using computer-data to engineer fluid, magnetic and movement-inspired styles. The collection is utilitarian-chic, with loads of pockets and buckles.
Read more about the collaborations here.
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