Preview // Nike’s Olympic Footwear and Apparel Collection for the Tokyo 2020 Games

Last week we got the chance to preview Nike’s Olympic Range for the 2020 Tokyo Summer Games — and it’s their most innovative yet. Nike was built by pushing boundaries in footwear, and still to this day, it’s what the Beaverton-based brand is best known for. And while this year’s Olympic offerings do include inventive footwear offerings, the brand hasn’t limited itself to breaking new ground on shoes. The brand has included an array of sustainable outfitting options for athletes, which arrive not only environmentally conscious, but also aware of the athlete’s needs in the scorching heat of Japan’s summer. From Nike’s first Skateboarding uniforms to brand new tech for track athletes, the sportswear brand has hashed out their best Olympic collection yet. Take a look and learn about the range for yourself further below:

Footwear

Vapormax 2020

headlining the brand’s footwear for the games is the all-new VaporMax 2020. a sneaker that carries most of its traditional DNA, but lifts it into the future with both high-tech inclusions and sustainable construction. The new model’s Flyknit upper is comprised of 75% recycled manufacturing waste and features multi-colored weaves that are inspired by a bird’s eye view of piles of waste. The addition of Nike’s laceless Flyease technology system allows users to slide in and out of the shoe while still providing a flexible and secure fit, while cosmetic upgrades like a sleeker shape, modified and more organic-feeling heel molds, and a slightly-higher rise complete the design.

Space Hippie

Also unveiled alongside the collection was Nike’s recyclable Space Hippie range, in which pairs transform scrap material from factory floors into a radical expression of circular design. Four options of the sustainable sneaker will be arriving soon, and you can read more about the project here.

Apparel

Skateboarding

For skateboarding’s debut on this summer’s global stage, Nike SB will introduce kits at the forefront of sustainable design. Athletes representing Team USA, France and Brasil will compete in uniforms designed with 100 percent recycled polyester, pattern efficiency for minimal waste and bright, bold styling (crafted in collaboration with Dutch artist Parra) to celebrate each nation’s unique skate culture.

Basketball

The United States of America Women’s Basketball Team has a near-peerless renown in international competition. Its domination on the world stage is cemented by records and distinguished by an exclusive red uniform (both men and women’s US teams share a white uniform, and the men’s alternate is a navy).

The women’s red uniform features classically blocked typography on the chest. The laurel line on the neckline is reminiscent of the uniforms from the ’96 women’s team in Atlanta, a team that broke a gold-medal drought and started a dynasty, and mirrors the wreath traditionally placed on the heads of victors. The navy side panels are an ode to the past, as is the script emblematic of the ’96 team on the short. Twelve stars, six down each side of the jersey, stand for the number of players on the team. A hidden detail on the short’s side vent reveals the number of players throughout the federation’s history (84), the team’s number of international appearances (10) and the number of gold medals won (eight)

Track and Field

The 2020 Athletics Uniform pieces are engineered from an entirely new Nike Dri-FIT Aeroswift material that helps athletes manage sweat and feel more comfortable while limiting seams and minimizing layers. Nike Dri-FIT is a unique construction that supports the body’s natural cooling system by wicking away sweat and dispersing it evenly throughout the surface of the garment; sweat evaporates quickly, helping athletes to manage heat and moisture. New for 2020, Nike Aeroswift features an updated lenticular design that reimagines color in an entirely new way by turning static shades into dynamic hues that shift and change while the body is in motion. The new material employs a mesh engineered with knitted structures and subtle ridges, creating a garment that’s breathable and that moves with the athlete — it also provides 25 percent more stretch from previous kits.

“We take great pride in designing a system of dress that not only helps athletes perform at their best, but one that’s worthy of these athletes’ incredible achievements,” says Janett Nichol, VP, Apparel Innovation.

Football

The extensive array of federations donning the Swoosh each have unique histories and cultures. In 2020, their distinctive attributes are celebrated with highly differentiated collections. Building upon the learnings from the successful 2018 Nigeria Collection, Nike undertook deep cultural immersions and collaborated with each federation to ensure the designs truly resonated. From hand-drawn prints to custom fonts, each team’s look will be its own. Counter to templatization, Nike designers had 65 chassis options available to them across varying necklines, sleeves, cuffs, badge placement, etc.

In addition to the art of designing football kits, science is always at the forefront of the process. It all starts in the lab, where Nike captured data on more than 300 footballers and football-specific movements. The design team leveraged 4D visualization tools to bring the product to life before creating samples. This process helps Nike analyze how the kits will perform on body with regard to stretching, draping and fit. Using generative design, Nike then knitted kits that are 55 percent faster wicking, 13 percent more breathable and with 10 percent more stretch than Nike’s previous kits. The precision knitting is reinforced where needed and vented in areas prone to heat. The results, upon close inspection, reveal a highly intricate knitting structure, while not distracting from the national pride artistry from afar.

Podium Wear

The Team USA collection elevates sustainability when this summer’s lights will shine brightest: the medal ceremony. Inspired by the recycled materials that make up the medals, Nike designers reimagined the iconic Windrunner jacket with 100 percent recycled polyester. Its distinct chevron-shaped silhouette, engineered to size for both male and female athletes, is inspired by Japanese kimono design and the panels are knit to shape for minimal waste. The garment’s defining mark — the national team logo — is stamped with recycled Nike Grind rubber. Team USA pants are also constructed from 100 percent recycled nylon, with a 100 percent recycled polyester mesh lining. Additional elements, such as the drawcord tips, zipper pulls, and Swoosh branding, are made with Nike Grind.