Nike took part in the New York Fashion Week festivities with their own Future Sport Forum. The event acted as a showcase for the brand’s athletic gear ahead of this summer’s Olympic Games, as well as a preview for upcoming 2020 footwear releases. An emphasis was placed on the use of sustainable materials, signalling Nike’s commitment to helping protect the future of the planet — and, consequently, the future of sport.
Highlights from the showcase include uniforms for USA basketball, progressive advances in track and field kits, and designs by Piet Parra x Nike SB to usher in skateboarding to the world stage.
Basketball
The USA Women’s Basketball team is known for their domination on the world stage. Their Nike-designed alternate red uniform features classically blocked typography on the chest. Twelve stars running down the sides of the jersey stand for the number of players on the team. Hidden details on the short’s side vent includes an “84”, the number of players throughout the federation’s history, “10” for the number of international appearances, and the number “8” for the number of gold medals won.
Track and Field
The re-engineered 2020 Athletics Uniform pieces are created using a new Nike Dri-FIT Aeroswift material that helps athletes manage sweat and feel more comfortable while limiting seams and minimizing layers. The new material employs mesh engineered with knitted structures and subtle ridges, creating a garment that’s breathable and that moves with the athlete. It also provides 25 percent more stretch from previous kits.
Skateboarding
Nike SB has created a special collection to welcome the sport of skateboarding to the Olympic Games. Athletes representing Team USA, France and Brazil will compete in uniforms designed by Dutch artist Piet Parra. From tank tops and shorts to polos and cargos, Nike SB has developed an array of outfit options so each rider can put together a look that properly represents their personal sense of style.
The color palette used for each country takes inspiration from their flag’s colors, but also compliments other natural colors that might occur in the country’s landscape and cities. The design behind USA’s Nike SB x Parra jersey in inspired by traditional basketball jerseys, with a bald eagle stitched on the lower left of the jersey representing freedom. The France jersey is an ode to the traditional tennis polo, representing hope and faith with a rooster stitched on the left chest. Nike SB also revealed new colorways of two upgraded Bruin models, the Bruin ZoomX and Bruin React, which are expected to hit shops this summer.
“Although opinions might vary within the skate community about the participation of skateboarding in the Olympics, I’m just very happy Nike SB got a team of people together that actually skate and understand the culture to make this happen.” — Piet Parra.
Check out all the Nike competition apparel on the global stage at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. Expect the pieces from all sports to hit Nike retailers and Nike.com this summer.