UPDATED: Sacai x Nike: everything you need to know about the collection

Hybrid, this is the keyword that defines the main characteristic of the work of Chitose Abe, a disciple of Rei Kawakubo and the creative mind behind Sacai. Her designs are an eternal experimentation, stemming from the combination of different clothing pieces into a single item - such as the fusion of a blazer and an overcoat - going through her clinical eye for the mix of prints and materials, and reaching the asymmetry of her pieces.

Deconstruction may not be the correct definition. What Chitose does is a new construction formulated on top of already existing pieces, coming from different contexts and inserted into a totally new one from the moment they are unified, giving rise to something unprecedented, which at first glance is complex and even confusing. It provokes the gaze of those observing and awakens the desire of those who understand.

Sacai spring 2019

In the spring 2019 collection fashion show, surrounded by an indie and exploratory atmosphere, with pieces that blended jeans and tailoring with sportswear in a unique way, the result of the combination of Nike and Sacai emerged for the first time. The collaboration came to life in the form of a hybrid sneaker, which brings the feeling of coexistence in its construction, almost as if two ideas occupy the same space.

The models retrieved by the designer to bring her creation to life were two silhouettes from the 70s, originally designed for running. The Waffle, one of the chosen ones, was the first Nike sneaker, created by Bill Bowerman, the co-founder of the company. The Daybreak came four years later and stood out for its lightweight and innovative materials - especially for its nylon upper - designed to enhance the performance of athletes.

The Nike Waffle Trainer is the first sneaker made by the brand, dated 1974.

The union between the two shoes resulted in the sneaker LDV Waffle and the Hybrid Collection. The sneaker will be sold in the two colors in which it was seen for the first time: one carries a color palette in green, yellow, orange, and black, while the other displays shades of red, blue, yellow, and silver details. The fluid and robust sole supports an upper filled with overlays and different materials, such as suede and leather, in its panels. The tongue, the swoosh, and the laces also appear in double and stand out in this singular sneaker.

The sale of the collaboration in Brazil will take place on May 16 starting at 10 AM only on the Nike website.