With Kembra Pfahler fronting the campaign, Melitta Baumeister’s second collaboration with Nike transforms sportswear into sculptural forms, exploring the relationship between the body, movement and design.
What happens when sportswear becomes sculpture? For her second collaboration with Nike, Melitta Baumeister takes her fascination with exaggerated volumes and unexpected shapes into a complete collection of footwear and clothing. The campaign stars Kembra Pfahler, the New York performance artist whose radical approach to the body and beauty makes her a natural presence in Baumeister’s universe.
Known for her theatrical performances and unconventional representations of femininity, Pfahler brings an underground sensibility to a collection that transforms familiar sportswear silhouettes.
At its centre is the Nike Rift Rocker, a reinterpretation of the split toe shoe with an exaggerated curved sole, originally sculpted by Baumeister in clay. Fingerprints and hand-shaped details preserve traces of the creative process.
The clothing follows the same approach. A twisted tracksuit features curved trousers reinforced with internal boning, while an oversized reversible puffer jacket can transform into a backpack. Playful accessories, including a nose shaped keychain and a banana shaped bag, complete the collection.
From sculpted fastenings to exaggerated proportions, Baumeister explores how clothing can alter the body’s silhouette, connecting her practice with Pfahler’s performative transformations.
Following its initial release on November 5, the collection will launch globally on November 12 through Nike SNKRS and selected retailers.
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