Since 2019, the house of Sacai has been developing a brilliant partnership with Nike. Indeed, the two labels seem to be shaking up the codes of sneaker culture with unique and innovative concepts inspired by Japanese culture. Thus, Chitose Abe now stands out as a reference in terms of collaborations and attracts the fervor of many sneaker addicts with her unprecedented creative imprint. Pushing the boundaries of elegance and luxury, Sacai x Nike acquires a strong visual identity and continues to impose its futuristic vision.
Undoubtedly one of the biggest successful partnerships for the Swoosh brand, let’s look back at this superb collaboration between the Japanese luxury house and the sportswear brand.
Sacai x Nike: the beginnings of a successful collaboration
Launched in 1999, Sacai is currently one of the largest fashion brands in the world. Inspired by the variant of Chitose Abe's maiden name Sakai, she initially embarked on creating a collection inspired by knitting that she made by hand. Following a men's clothing collection that was not very successful, Chitose developed her asymmetrical style that quickly made an impression and gave her a unique visual identity. Visionary and avant-garde, her fashion shows in Paris quickly allowed her to increase her fame in just 10 years.
In 2015, after acquiring a global position in the fashion world, she also conquered the sportswear brand that approached her to create a clothing collection combining elements from both brands. Thus, Chitose celebrates sport and the beauty of movement through unprecedented graphics and colors on the first pieces of this promising partnership. From its release, it experienced wide success that allowed for a follow-up, this time focused on sneakers from the Swoosh brand.
It was in 2019 that the first Sacai x Nike “Blazer with the Dunk” pack appeared and was affiliated with the previous successful capsule. The Sacai Nike Blazer then features a first black upper with white and blue accents while the second displays a yellow construction with red and black details. Quickly a victim of its success, this experimental pack consists of doubled elements that launch Sacai's iconic design.
Photo Credits: Sneakerbardetroit
A continuous collaboration that offers iconic sneakers
Following the first pack, the luxury house continues its collaboration with the Swoosh brand and keeps bringing new unprecedented colorways into the world of Nike. Indeed, Chitose unveils many futuristic silhouettes that are quickly adored, notably her Sacai x Nike Vaporwaffle which is acclaimed and brilliantly successful. Alongside, the Japanese house takes on many other silhouettes recognized as references such as:
Sacai x Nike LD Waffle
Launched for the first time in 2019 after the “Blazer with the Dunk” pack, Chitose merged two iconic Nike shoes to create a hybrid model that is beautifully reinterpreted with three labels in 2021.
- Sacai x Fragment x Nike LD Waffle
Photo Credits: @wethenew (Instagram)
In collaboration with the iconic label of Hiroshi Fujiwara, the Sacai x Fragment x Nike LD Waffle was released in two stunning, understated, and elegant iterations, the “Light Smoke Grey” and the “Blue Void”. Both made of suede and mesh uppers, they also feature the traditional doubled elements and the inscription “The Classic / Fragment: sacai” on its midsole. This first drop appeared on August 24, 2021, priced at €170.
- Sacai x Clot x Nike LD Waffle
Photo Credits: Clot
After a notably successful first drop, Sacai and Nike teamed up this time with Clot. Founded in 2003 by Edison Chen and Kevin Poon, the three labels offered two new compositions, the “Orange Blaze” and the “Cool Grey”. In the image of the brand that celebrates individuality, creativity, and local culture with an innovative perspective on fashion, these were adorned with a suede upper for one and mesh for the other. The Sacai x Clot x Nike LD Waffle “Orange Blaze” was released on September 11, 2021, priced at €170, while the Sacai x Clot x Nike LD Waffle “Cool Grey” was released on October 9, priced at €180.
- Sacai x Undercover x Nike LD Waffle
Photo Credits: House of Heat
The Japanese label Undercover also teamed up with Sacai x Nike to unveil three new sneakers with the colorway “Bright Citron”, the “Midnight Spruce”, and the “Night Maroon”. Each composed of a base of gray, black, and cream, beautiful suede and leather overlays were added along with yellow, red, and blue. The Sacai x Undercover x Nike LD Waffle were released on October 29, 2021, priced at €170.
Sacai x Nike Vaporwaffle
Unveiled for the first time in 2020 during Fashion Week, the Sacai x Nike Vaporwaffle established a strong visual identity from the outset. Indeed, with a bold mix of the Nike Vaporfly and the Nike Pegasus, it stands as a flagship piece of this superb partnership that many sneaker addicts wish to possess in their sneaker collection.
- Sacai x Nike Vaporwaffle “Black White” & “Royal Fuchsia”
Photo Credits: Nike
Introduced with two first understated colorways named “Black White” and “Royal Fuchsia”, these two Sacai x Nike Vaporwaffle quickly generated excitement in sneaker culture. Indeed, they combine many materials and consist of mesh with suede overlays. Additionally, many doubled details accompanied these pairs such as the side swooshes, the tongues, and the laces. This new collaboration was released on November 6, 2020, priced at €180.
- Sacai x Nike Vaporwaffle “Tour Yellow” & “Villain Red”
Photo Credits: Wave
If the first releases of the Sacai x Nike Vaporwaffle were unanimous, the two labels obviously proposed two new compositions, the “Tour Yellow” and the “Villain Red”. These were built around the same assembly of materials as those released previously. However, they were dressed in more vibrant colors with a beautiful combination of yellow and green for one and a dominant purple for the other. These dropped shortly after, on December 17, 2020, priced at €180.
- Sacai x Nike Vaporwaffle “Dark Iris” & “Sesame”
Photo Credits: Klekt
Following four initial compositions that were recognized as the best sneaker releases of 2020, Nike and Sacai once again captured the hearts of sneaker addicts with the announcement of two new iterations, the “Dark Iris” and the “Sesame”. The two labels offer an assortment of colors that are still remarkable. Indeed, the first reveals itself with an orange and purple mesh base while the second displays a clean colorblocking with different shades of beige and blue. The only releases of the year, they were released on April 29, 2021, priced at €180.
- Sacai x Nike Vaporwaffle “Black Gum” & “Sail Gum”
Photo Credits: @del.ten (Instagram)
Having become essential since the first version in 2020, the Vaporwaffle was released this year with the colorway “Black Gum” and “Sail Gum”. Undoubtedly the most anticipated compositions of the year, Chitose once again achieved a flawless performance and won over sneaker addicts with these two new editions in black & white tones. Long delayed, they were released on March 10, 2022, priced at €180.
Sacai x Nike Blazer Low
In 2021, Chitose Abe returns to the origins of the Blazer Low. Indeed, while the brand's creator constantly seeks to blend innovation into her silhouettes, she revisits the simplest details of the Blazer.
- Sacai x Nike Blazer Low “Classic Green” & “Magma Orange”
Photo Credits: @sacaiofficial
At first glance retro, Chitose Abe focused on two first low summer silhouettes with her own vision. Thus, the Sacai x Nike Blazer Low “Magma Orange” and “Classic Green” feature doubled elements on a white leather upper and seem to be made with a perfect finish. Added to the spring lineup of Sacai x Nike, they were released on June 10, 2021, priced at €120.
- Sacai x Nike Blazer Low “White Patent” & “Black Patent”
Photo Credits: Nike
In 2022, the Japanese house became a reference in sneaker releases and unveiled a follow-up to the first spring compositions of the Sacai x Nike Blazer Low. However, the Sacai x Nike Blazer Low “Black Patent” appeared with a matte black leather base while the Sacai x Nike Blazer Low “White Patent” donned a more classic pristine white and beige upper than the previous versions. With a clever mix of stability and risks, they were released on March 31 at a price of €125.
Sacai x Nike Cortez
If Sacai has revisited many silhouettes, it does not intend to stop there and tackles an iconic pair from the Swoosh brand, the Nike Cortez. Inextricably linked to the brand's history, Chitose modernizes the 1972 model and unveils two new modernized and futuristic uppers. One features a timeless colorway type “Cortez” and the other with a “Navy” colorway. Thus, the founder of Sacai hopes to make a lasting impression in 2022 with a stunning new design.