Nike & Sacai Are Giving Nothing, In a Good Way
Nike and Sacai are back in the lab, this time for a capsule collection that, at first glance, may strike as surprisingly pared-back. But it's far from dull.
Five all-black pieces, a mix of tracksuit tops and bottoms, are stylistically simple while incorporating Sacai's signature flare for sculptural detailing — think pleating, pockets, and sharp lines.
It's not just the urbane simplicity and attention to detail that make this collection stand out in a sea of athleisure-esque drops.
Nike and Sacai's latest capsule, which will be available on Sacai's website on December 13, is about more than just (very good) clothes. It's about connection. So much so that illustrator Yusuke Hanai created a sculpture inspired by its collaborative ethos.
According to a press release for the collaboration, the sculpture represents the power of partnership and collective growth.
"When we stumble and fall, and feel it's impossible to carry on, there are people on our side encouraging us to take the next step forward. This bond is essential to our existence."
In the collection's campaign, siblings Tina Kunakey and Zakari Kunakey mimic the two figures in Hanai's sculpture, driving home the theme of interconnectedness.
This might be Nike and Sacai's most sentimental collaboration, but it's far from their first team-up. In fact, Nike and Sacai go way back, and the pair's collabs are famously subversive.
From rakish part-puffer-part-fur jacket collaborations to delightfully doubled-up VaporWaffles, Sacai and Nike are a duo made in geometric design heaven. Though, to be fair, Sacai pairs quite well with just about everyone. (That Carhartt collab lives in my head rent free).
But as one of Sacai's most frequent collaborators, Nike brings out the best in Sacai. And this latest capsule bolsters this theory.
