Throw tradition out the door? Never. Famed designer Chitose Abe brings her unifying vision to a footwear icon, celebrating the 50th anniversary of Nike’s first classic. Dressing you in time-travelling style, era-echoing ’70s materials like nylon and suede pair with Zoom Air cushioning in the forefoot to create a boundary-pushing look that propels Nike design into the future. sacai’s spliced-together aesthetic (2 collars, 2 Swooshes, 2 tongues) layers up the detail, while the carved-up midsole keeps the original’s wedge-shape design for an experimental twist that lets you bridge past with present. Lace up, warp time and turn heads—the Zoom Cortez x sacai.
Despite being one of Nike’s longest-standing collaborators, sacai only came into popularity following the release of their LDWaffle in 2019. And since, designer Chitose Abe has approached her collaborations in a similar way, reconstructing classics with elements from other silhouettes. The upcoming Cortez, however, is a slight departure from the norm, as the design is a bit more grounded relative to Abe’s prior works.
To commemorate the Cortez’s 50th anniversary, the Swoosh has tapped an intimate cast of collaborators, which will include Chitose Abe. And while the Japanese designer has revisited the vintage Nike Running model’s classic “White/Varsity Royal/Varsity Red” for its joint-effort, it’s completely redesigned the sneaker’s sole unit. Close-to-the-ground cushioning accompanied by serrated traction is given a layered look à la LDWaffle, sacai’s most popular Nike collaboration to date, as well as an exposed Zoom Air system akin to top-of-the-line performance running shoes from the Swoosh. The modifications don’t top at the bottom-half, however, as profile swooshes, overlays at the heel and collars all deliver a multi-layered arrangement that gives a refreshing, experimental spin to a shoe that debuted in 1972 – the famous Nike Cortez.
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Vlad Ciutacu is a writer based in The Hague, Netherlands. He has been working in the footwear industry for more than a decade, with hundreds of pairs in his collection. His favourite models are the Air Jordan 1 and the Nike SB Dunk Low Pro. Find him on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
