The Top 10 Nike Collaborators of All Time

If you’re reading this then it’s highly-likely that you’re already well-invested in sneaker culture, and you’ll know just how important collaborations are in this industry. If you’re new to the game then strap yourself in, as we’re about to deep dive into some of the most important Nike collaborators of all time. From chart-topping artists right through to high-fashion legends, the Swoosh brand really does it all when it comes to partnerships. Combine this with the expansive roster of silhouettes available to work on and you have an instantly-winning formula.

In a world where collaborations are released weekly or even daily, it’s more important than ever to stand out from the crowd, and these creators are the best in the game right now. Check out our choices below as we cover some of their most important releases and why we think so, and if you can think of anyone that we’ve missed or that you’d add to the list, make sure to let us know via social media!

It’s hard to deny just how much of an influence Travis Scott has had on the sneaker world. Ever since the Houston-based rapper first joined forces with the Swoosh back in 2017 he’s produced nothing but pure gold. With several equally impressive Air Force 1s under his belt, the Astrowold star went on to create one of the most hyped Air Jordan 1 releases in recent memory, by completely disregarding the rule book and reversing the iconic Nike Swoosh logo. If we fast forward to 2021 it’s clear that Travis has still got the magic touch, after his three-way collaboration with Jordan Brand and fragment design dominated the market.

The one and only godfather of streetwear Hiroshi Fujiwara founded his fragment design label back in 2003, and since then the brand has partnered up with Nike more times than we’ve had hot dinners. While some collaborations have been enormously hyped (take the fragment x Air Jordan 1 from back in 2014 for example), others have remained totally under the radar. One thing is for certain though, and that’s that Fujiwara’s approach to design won’t be changed by trends that come and go. His subtle yet exquisite taste is a match made in heaven for Nike and we’re hoping for many more strong releases!

When Kanye West is mentioned many sneakerheads instantly think of the adidas Yeezy brand, but let’s not forget where Mr. West started, and no, we’re not referring to Louis Vuitton. Kanye’s work with Nike is arguably responsible for an entire new wave of sneakerheads being exposed to the scene, and if you’re old enough to remember that iconic “now available” tweet that announced the drop of the Nike Air Yeezy II “Red October” then you’ll already know just how important this period was. While Kanye didn’t hang around at Nike, he laid the foundations for a phenomenon that grew bigger than anyone could ever have imagined.

It’s hard to touch upon anything collaboration-related without mentioning NYC-based skate brand Supreme. A label that needs no introduction, Supreme first joined forces with Nike straight after Nike SB made its debut in 2002, with the pair in question SB Dunk Lows. The release dropped in store with no prior warning or announcement, and even managed to sit on the shelves for a short while before it sold-out. Since then, the duo have produced some of the most iconic releases of the last 20 years, including (but not limited to) Blazers, Air Force 1s, Air Max 98s and so much more.

Founded back in 2002, Undefeated operated as a high-end sneaker boutique for several years before making the jump to becoming a seasoned Nike collaborator, and when it did the results were monumental. There are little Air Jordan 4 colourways that demand as much attention as the Khaki Green Undefeated AJ4 from back in 2005 does, and it’s the simple yet effective colour blocking and design features that edge them a step above the competition. Let’s not forget the many Dunks, Air Force 1s and Air Max releases that the label has also worked on over the years, if we were to list them all we’d be here all day!

Seeing as we’re talking about epic Nike collaborations, it’s only right that we pay homage to Virgil Abloh and his Off-White brand. It’s hard to remember a collaboration in recent years that’s caused a bigger stir than the initial launch of “The 10”. Rather than working on just one silhouette, Virgil made his debut by releasing ten different collaborative sneakers at once, with the collection spanning over the AJ1, Presto, VaporMax and many more. The launch was accompanied by pop-up shops, workshops hosted by Virgil himself and even exhibitions. Since then, Abloh continues to launch sneakers that sell-out instantly and is constantly pushing boundaries when it comes to hype products.

Ever since Rei Kawakubo launched Comme des Garçons, the Japanese fashion house has been renowned for its wacky designs that have proved incredibly popular across many different markets. The brand has held a longstanding partnership with Nike for many years now, and has totally redesigned plenty of different silhouettes to showcase it’s instantly-recognisable flair. Notable releases across recent years include an all-pink Air Max 180, the blinged-out Nike Shox TL (pictured) and of course 2020’s Air Force 1 Mid.

After studying at Bunka Fashion College in Tokyo, Jun Takahashi founded his now extremely-well-known label Undercover back in 1993. By 2002, he was already showing at Paris fashion week and his successful career was well underway. Undercover collaborated with the Swoosh for the first time back in 2010, when the duo worked on the then brand-new Gyakusou program, a collection that focused on creating technical yet stylish sportswear, which is still running today. Alongside this, the two brands have also had plenty of successful standalone releases, including a Dunk, debut versions of the React Element 87 (that caused a stir at Paris Fashion Week back in FW18) and even a take on the vintage Daybreak silhouette.

In recent years sacai has been one of the most popular Nike collaborators out there, responsible for exaggerated and doubled-up takes on the Blazer, as well as the hugely-hyped LDWaffle and VaporWaffle silhouettes, which are both excellent in their own right. While these memorable pairs are what we’d instantly think of when asked to picture Nike x sacai, it’s important to remember that the two labels have a history that spans back to 2015, when the duo worked on slip-on variants of both the Air Max 90 and the Dunk. While these pairs weren’t relatively well-received, it’s now clear that they were plenty ahead of their time.

As we round off our top ten Nike collaborators, it would be impossible not to mention the one and only KAWS, aka Brian Donnelly. While the American artist and designer often remains under the radar, there’s no denying that he’s easily one of the greats when it comes to sneaker collaborations. All the way back in 2008 KAWS teamed up with Nike to offer two variations of the Air Max 90 that are now legendary, and in 2017 the KAWS x Air Jordan 4 sent the sneakerhead world into a frenzy, with several FCFS releases even shut down by police in London. At the time of writing, another three-way Blazer collaboration between KAWS, sacai and Nike is also en-route, and we’re expecting it to be a big one!