When it comes to sports and high fashion, they’ve traditionally been considered as polar opposites, with athletes donning formal attire for special occasions and athletic gear for on-field performances. Nike and Martine Rose, however, are tearing down this outdated perception, launching a groundbreaking line that beautifully weaves these two worlds together. Their collection, Nike x Martine Rose, is a robust salute to the modern, empowered woman athlete, and a powerful stride toward gender parity in the domain of tailored sports attire.
Emerging from the heart of British tailoring aesthetics, Nike x Martine Rose redefines the concept of sportswear by producing stylishly designed garments, as suitable for ”stepping off the plane” as they are for taking the field. This exquisite range, planned to coincide with the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia, reflects the culmination of a novel venture for both Nike and Martine Rose. The collection signifies an essential progression in the trajectory of tailored sportswear, its influence likely to ripple through the industry and dictate trends for years to come.
In an interview, Martine Rose declared her excitement about the collection, stating it’s “more than just tailoring. It’s about the women wearing it, it’s about strength, resilience, beauty, power“. In breaking down traditional norms around gendered attire in sports, this collection aims to render the conversation on gender in sports redundant.
“I love the mash-up that sports and fashion and culture has become, and as an athlete, I’ve always wanted what we wear to stand for more”, says Megan Rapinoe, Nike athlete and United States Women’s National Team member. “I think Martine, as a designer inspired by sports culture, is able to pull so much meaning into her work, and for her to be able to express herself through this moment that is so special to us is really cool – and obviously the pieces are just dope”.
This isn’t the first time Rose and Nike have used their collaborations to propel the visibility of women in football. Their 2021 joint project, the Nike x Martine Rose “The Lost Lionesses” Jersey, was a gender-neutral tribute to the unacknowledged female English football team of 1971. Alongside the jersey, a virtual experience and film, “The Lost Lionesses”, was released, demonstrating a unique blend of fashion and technology in storytelling.
With this upcoming collection, Nike x Martine Rose continues to highlight the crossroads of fashion and football culture, while pioneering for the women’s game. The collection includes a suit jacket, trousers, a trench coat, and a shirt. Every piece is brimming with distinctive details, like the ‘M‘ patterned jacquard knit on the woolen jacket and trousers and the Nike x Martine Rose tag. The trench coat introduces a unique design element of extra sleeves, reminiscent of the scarves typically worn by football fans.
There are also innovative adaptations on the team label, featuring a Martine Rose crest and a playful “Martine” sponsor’s logo on the shirt. The crest carries a homage to Rose’s roots in south London with a reference to the Croydon coat of arms, and a graphic Rose motif resembling football-associated patterns.
The comprehensive collection even extends to knee-high stockings, co-branded sunglasses, and a reiteration of last year’s Nike x Martine Rose Shox MR4 in fresh colorways. The new footwear amalgamates a dress shoe and the Nike Shox R4, reshaped into a mule silhouette with a lifted heel and squared toe, an amalgamation that infuses the design with a formal edge.
The 2023 Nike x Martine Rose collection will be available exclusively on martine-rose.com July 25th and on SNKRS and at select specialty stores July 27th.
Read more: Martine Rose Spring/Summer 2024
