Nike and Melitta Baumeister reunite for a head-to-toe collection that explores the relationship between athletic performance and artistic expression. Following their previous collaboration on the Vomero Premium and Pegasus Premium, the designer introduces a new series of footwear and apparel inspired by the human body, physical movement and the process of shaping materials.
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The collection takes its starting point from clay, which Baumeister uses as a material and reference for understanding how forms develop. Her approach considers the repetitive actions involved in artistic practice and athletic training, translating those ideas into exaggerated silhouettes and adaptable clothing. References to hands, eyes and facial contours appear throughout the designs, while removable components allow garments to change their appearance and function.
The collection includes the Nike Rift Rocker, a reversible puffer jacket, a sculpted track jacket, coordinating track pants and split-toe tabi socks. Nike will release the designs in two colorways, Black and Yukon Brown.
Nike Rift Rocker Introduces a Sculpted Split-Toe Silhouette
The Nike x Melitta Baumeister Rift Rocker provides the foundation for the collection. Baumeister revisits the Nike Rift, a silhouette recognised for its split-toe construction, and introduces a substantial rocker sole inspired by sculpted clay.
A distressed leather upper complements the shoe’s exaggerated proportions, while the thick, curved sole changes its overall profile. The design draws attention to the relationship between footwear and the human foot, using volume and symmetry to develop a distinctive shape.
“The Nike Rift has such a unique history and distinct relationship to the foot, so I wanted to exaggerate that even further with the Rift Rocker,” Baumeister explains.
“The sculpted sole gives it a completely different presence, almost like the shoe has been molded into form. We carried that same approach into the apparel through exaggerated volume, modular construction and details that allow the pieces to transform on the body.”
The Rift Rocker establishes the visual direction for the remaining pieces, connecting footwear and clothing through sculptural construction and references to the body.
Baumeister carries the same approach into apparel, using oversized proportions and removable details to create garments that adapt to the wearer.
The reversible puffer jacket features detachable sleeves and a removable collar, allowing the wearer to alter its shape. A concealed tote bag introduces an additional functional element, extending the jacket’s versatility beyond outerwear.
The sculpted track jacket continues the exploration of volume with a loose silhouette and a detachable ribbed balaclava, a recurring element in Baumeister’s designs. A custom Molded Clay Swoosh appears at the back of the neck, connecting the garment to the collection’s original material inspiration.
The coordinating track pants feature a relaxed fit and a detachable clay-molded carabiner incorporating Baumeister’s signature “Nose” key ring. The accessory gives the pants a sculptural detail while connecting them visually to the Rift Rocker.
Split-toe tabi socks complete the offering, following the divided construction of the footwear. Together, the garments establish a consistent design language through exaggerated shapes, textured materials and components that wearers can remove or adjust.
The Nike x Melitta Baumeister collection launches November 5, 2026, through melittabaumeister.com. A wider release follows on November 12 through Nike SNKRS, Nike Lab Paris, Nike Lab Shanghai, Dover Street Market locations worldwide and selected retail partners.
The collection continues Baumeister’s exploration of movement through sculptural fashion, bringing her experimental design methods to familiar sportswear categories. From the Rift Rocker’s curved sole to the transformable outerwear, the new designs reflect her interest in how clothing interacts with the body’s changing shapes and movements.
