Jannik Sinner traveled to Milan following the Australian Open to reveal a custom performance look created with Nike. The Italian tennis champion originally intended to return to his hometown of Sexten. He changed his plans when Nike offered him the chance to collaborate on a design-focused outfit. This partnership helped launch the presence of the brand during a major winter sports event and celebrated the return of the All Conditions Gear line.
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Nike designers worked with Sinner to create a head-to-toe ensemble. The kit includes a bespoke jacket, an insulated vest, tailored pants, and footwear. This system serves as a reflection of the identity of Sinner beyond his professional tennis career. He wore the sculptural, winter-ready outfit for interviews and events alongside Martin Lotti, the Chief Design Officer at Nike.
Sinner expressed that the investment of energy from Nike makes an athlete feel important. He values the close relationship with the brand and describes the partnership as a family. This project allowed the design team to serve the athlete through both performance and personal expression. The layered system moves away from standard competition kits. It references the Alpine roots of Sinner and his life away from the court.
A pure silver keychain carabiner hangs from the custom pants. The shape of the carabiner follows an elevation map of the Alps. Sinner spent his childhood skiing in these mountains. He believes small details make a significant difference in design. Senior Design Director Raffaella Barbey oversaw the creation of the look to the exact specifications of Sinner. Barbey conducted fittings in Melbourne and refined the pieces through multiple iterations.
The team adjusted the color palette based on direct feedback from the athlete. Early versions of the jacket used orange piping. Designers softened this detail to align with the muted personal style of Sinner. The final system includes a custom ACG vest with adaptive A.I.R. technology. This innovation appears in the jackets worn by Team USA.
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Martin Lotti explained that the process begins by listening to the voice of the athlete. Designers consider the preferences and needs of the player from both performance and visual perspectives. Creating a one-of-one item allows Nike to push limits on materials and methods of make. The team can act faster on a shorter timeline when building a single unit.
This project falls under a platform Lotti calls Nike Atelier. Atelier creates custom designs for signature athletes at key moments away from the field of play. It applies an athlete-driven mindset to moments where environment and culture are important. Sinner was a national champion in giant slalom before his tennis career. His history as a top ski racer in the Dolomites provided the inspiration for this ACG-inspired expression.
Sinner noted that the experience differed from his work with other brands because he participated more in the process. He engaged in conversations about improvements and functional changes. He believes style requires understanding your own personality at a specific point in time.
