Nike’s newest collaboration brings together the brand’s performance heritage with Melitta Baumeister’s sculptural approach to fashion. Titled Run Like No One, the project connects the act of running with self-expression, positioning the sneaker as both a technical tool and a creative surface. Baumeister’s work has long focused on rethinking form through material experimentation, making her an unexpected yet fitting partner for Nike’s ongoing interest in cross-disciplinary design.
SNEAKERS
The partnership reflects a shared belief in reaching athletes who don’t see themselves reflected in mainstream sport. Baumeister’s practice breaks from traditional fashion codes, while Nike continues to support designers who expand cultural and visual definitions of athleticism. The collaboration builds on their existing relationship, which began in September 2024 when Nike backed Baumeister’s first NYFW runway and continued in 2025 with support for her FAHO25 collection and bespoke Air Max Muses.
The first release in this collaboration is the Nike x MB Vomero Premium, arriving in SP26. It marks the first time the Vomero, a high-cushion performance runner, has been co-created with a designer. The sneaker appears in a hand-painted Crimson Orange finish priced at 250 dollars, made to look worn-in from the start, signaling a shoe intended for everyday use rather than display. Each pair is individually painted, exaggerating seams and panels to shift attention toward the construction of the model itself.
Signature details run throughout the design. Baumeister’s logo appears on the lateral, medial, and outsole, while an eye symbol is placed on the tongue, insole, and outsole as a reminder to run like no one is watching. A painted foot graphic inside the shoe and painted initials on the insole reinforce the idea of the sneaker as a personal object shaped by the wearer. The result is a performance model that carries visual traces of an artist’s hand rather than the sterility of standard factory finish.
The Vomero Premium keeps the full performance platform of the base model, including ZoomX foam and dual Air Zoom units at the forefoot and heel. Inspired by anti-gravity treadmills, the midsole is engineered to give a sense of reduced body weight, prioritizing impact absorption and energy return. The cushioning system is designed for long-distance runners who want comfort without losing responsiveness.
Nike x Melitta Baumeister will release through SNKRS, MelittaBaumeister.com, and select Nike retailers. As the first chapter of the collaboration, the Vomero Premium signals a continued movement between sport and design, where performance footwear becomes a place for artistic authorship instead of pure utility.
