Founded in 1964 by Phil Knight and Bill Bowerman, Nike has grown to become one of the most prominent and successful brands in the entire world. Originally geared towards creating shoes and apparel for athletes, the company now has many different divisions, including a large sector that’s dedicated to lifestyle wear. Nike has long since been adopted by the fashion and style world, with Swoosh sneakers achieving cult classic status many times over. Throughout the years, Nike has collaborated with a huge number of different brands and artists, creating some legendary pairs along the way.
Here at Crepslocker we’ve decided to rank the best Nike collaborations of all time, as endless office debates have helped us to truly decide which partnerships deserve a place in the history books. So whether you’re team Stüssy or team Patta, let’s settle the scores once and for all and check out some of the best Nike collaborations of all time!
UNDERCOVER x Nike
Japanese fashion label UNDERCOVER has long since been favoured by fashionistas due to its sleek aesthetics and rebellious looks. Founded by Jun Takahashi, the brand offers up regular collections and holds a long and fruitful partnership with Nike. The duo have worked on plenty of different silhouettes over the years, including the React Element 87 (pictured), the Presto and the Dunk High. The duo have even launched a specific performance running range, titled Gyakusou.
Sean Wotherspoon x Nike
A partnership that was birthed through 2017’s Nike “On Air” competition, Sean Wotherspoon and Nike enjoyed a short but sweet period together, launching just a singular sneaker. Created as Sean’s entry to the competition, the sneaker is a hybrid model that combines the Air Max 97 and the Air Max 1, offering a unique look that’s covered in corduroy across the uppers. Coming complete with Velcro tongue tabs and a matching apparel collection, the SW x Nike AM 97/1 is still one of the most desirable sneaker collaborations in recent memory.
Travis Scott x Nike
Houston-based rapper Travis Scott is no stranger to a sneaker collaboration, but it all started back in 2017, when the very-first Cactus Jack x Nike silhouette launched in the form of an Air Force 1, as part of the AF100 collection. Since then, the duo have worked on countless different silhouettes, such as the SB Dunk Low (pictured), the Air Max 1 and the Mac Attack. Scott’s signature reversed Swoosh logo often makes an appearance throughout his work, as well as his recognisable Cactus Jack logo.
COMME des GARÇONS x Nike
It’s no secret that sneaker fans love COMME des GARÇONS as much as fashion fans do, and that’s largely due to the Japanese label’s many Nike collaborations from throughout the years. Known for adding its refined luxury touch to classic models, Rei Kawakubo’s iconic outpost has worked on silhouettes such as the Air Max 95 (pictured), the Air Mowabb and the Air Max 180. Often retailing at a significantly higher price than the standard Nike versions, these collaborations are crafted from exquisite fabrics and boast carefully distressed details.
Patta x Nike
Amsterdam-based retailer Patta doesn’t need any introduction, as the sneaker store has single-handedly birthed some of the most respected footwear collaborations in the last 20 years. Air Max fans in particular should be more than familiar with the store, as Patta has teamed up with the Swoosh to launch popular versions of the Air Max 1 (pictured), the Air Max 90 and the Air Max Plus. Many sneaker fans confuse Patta with Parra, the similarly named graphic design artist who also happens to have multiple Air Max collaborations – there’s even a three-way effort between Patta, Parra and Nike.
Off-White x Nike
Sneakerheads who have been around a while will no doubt recall the impressive marketing campaign behind 2017’s “The 10” collection, the first collaborative effort between Off-White and Nike. The late Virgil Abloh reimagined ten popular Swoosh silhouettes with his signature industrial aesthetic, with each pair proving incredibly successful. Since then, the duo have continued to work together closely, launching pairs such as the Off-White x Nike Air Presto (pictured), a further Air Max 90 effort and even 50 different variations of the Dunk Low. Without a doubt, Off-White x Nike deserves a place in our list.
Supreme x Nike
Streetwear and sneakers go hand in hand, so perhaps that’s why everyone loves Supreme x Nike so much? The duo hold one of the longest-running partnerships in the game, having first joined forces back in 2002 to launch an ultra-limited pair of SB Dunk Lows. Since then, the box logo and the Swoosh have been more than productive, dropping a plethora of efforts, including four colourways of the Air Max 98 (pictured), several pairs of AF1s and even a regal-looking version of the Nike Air Foamposite.
sacai x Nike
While many believe that sacai and Nike’s partnership began with the hugely-popular LDWaffle silhouette (pictured) that was debuted during a Paris Fashion Week show in 2019, the duo have actually been partnered since 2015, when they launched a collaborative take on the Air Max 90 using premium leather and a single-piece upper. Since then, Chitose Abe and the team have been busy working on other Swoosh silhouettes such as the Vaporwaffle and multiple different variants of the Blazer.
Stüssy x Nike
While Stüssy may be known for apparel more so than sneakers, it’s safe to say that the Californian fashion label is also a dab hand at putting together a memorable sneaker collaboration. First joining forces with Nike in the year 2000 (yes, that’s even before Supreme teamed up with the Swoosh), the duo have since worked on the Air Force 1, the Zoom Spiridon and the Air Huarache (pictured). Often opting for natural hues and using unique materials such as hemp, here at Crepslocker we’re huge fans of Stüssy’s work with Nike.
Kanye West x Nike
While newer sneakerheads may only be aware of Kanye West’s work with adidas, the College Dropout star actually joined forces with the Swoosh well before his Yeezy project with adidas was dreamt into existence. 2009 saw the birth of the original Air Yeezy, however things really started to kick off when the Air Yeezy 2 (pictured) was introduced in 2012. Offering an improved look, the sneakers featured an Air midsole, textured uppers and an embossed Swoosh logo. There was even a hugely-hyped “Red October” colourway that surprise dropped via a sudden Twitter link. Love him or hate him, it’s hard to deny just how important Kanye West has been to the world of sneakers.
