We have been trying to psyche ourselves up to exercise more so perhaps the designs in this eight-piece capsule collection between NikeLab and sacai's Chitose Abe may prove to be just the right incentive.
Bringing a feminine edge to traditional sportswear, Abe transforms classic performance icons into functional sport hybrids. Abe scoured Nike's archives and reinterpreted its heritage sportswear silhouettes through a feminine and modern lens. The resulting collection is a bold expression of style and a celebration of the body in motion. The women’s collection features sacai’s signature pleats and exaggerated shapes executed in innovative, high-tech materials and new fabrications. The collection is designed around two different weights of Nike's Tech Fleece which has been reimagined into five signature sacai styles including the crew sweatshirt, crew hooded sweatshirt, crew top, crew knee-length dress and sweatpants. Other new fabric innovations include a special mesh lace hem that was specifically developed by Nike and Abe to trim the hems of graphic t-shirts and paneling which was attached to several of the garments emphasising the fluidity of movement. In addition to the development of new fabrications, the design of certain classics was re-imagined: the classic Nike Windrunner was reinterpreted as a skirt featuring plissé-style pleating and a hooded sweatshirt now features a peplum detail.
The full collection also includes a brand new interpretation of the iconic Air Max silhouette. The sneaker has been reworked into a unique slip-on style, honouring the theme of expression and freedom of movement that is prevalent in the collection. Co-ordinating with the main the collection, the Air Max is available in shades of obsidian and black with volt lining, volt and obsidian with volt lining and wolf grey with volt lining.
Unlike recent less-than-successful high-profile attempts at merging high fashion with sportswear, this NikeLab x sacai collaboration proves that when done properly, it can truly be a thing of beauty. The collection debuts today, March 19 and the NikeLab x sacai summer collection, which will introduce new colorways and additional pieces, will go on sale in June.