Tom Sachs and Nike Are Resuming Their Partnership

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Tom Sachs and Nike Are Resuming Their Partnership

As someone who has closely followed Tom Sachs and Nike‘s partnership over the years, I must admit that I was taken aback by the allegations of misconduct that surfaced last year. However, as a fan of their collaborative work, I have always admired their ability to push the boundaries of design and innovation. The Mars Yard series is undoubtedly one of my favorites, and I eagerly await the release of the Mars Yard 3.0.

After approximately 18 months, it appears that Tom Sachs and Nike are set to restart their NikeCraft collaboration, which was previously paused due to allegations of unacceptable and harsh conduct by Sachs towards his studio team. In a recent statement, Nike expressed that Sachs has shown and reaffirmed his dedication to cultivating a culture that values respect and inclusivity. The company confirmed that the partnership with Sachs will continue, and the upcoming phase of NikeCraft will maintain their mutual enthusiasm for teamwork, quality, and compelling storytelling. Further information about this new chapter is expected in 2025.

Starting in 2012, collaboration between Sachs and Nike led to the creation of numerous popular sneakers such as the Mars Yard (2012), Mars Yard 2.0 (2017), Mars Yard Overshoe (2018), General Purpose Shoe (2022), along with numerous unpublished designs, children’s editions, and even a custom Cole Haan wingtip. However, this partnership was temporarily halted in May 2023 following a damning expose by Curbed, which revealed the strict work environment at Sachs’ studio, characterized by his “10 Bullets” rules, frequent outbursts involving yelling, throwing items, and making offensive comments, including jokes about a “rape room”, as well as occasional video call appearances in his underwear.

Sachs expressed his gratitude that we’ll keep constructing together as part of the NikeCraft team and community, according to a statement he released through Nike. The Mars Yard 3.0 is nearing completion and is undergoing wear-testing at this time. He can’t wait to share more details with us soon.

Nike’s renewed partnership with Sachs, a partner facing controversy, has some recent parallels in Nike’s collaborative sphere. Following the tragic incidents at Travis Scott’s Astroworld festival in November 2021, which resulted in multiple deaths due to overcrowding and stampedes, there was a pause in the release of any new sneakers by Scott and Nike. However, they resumed their collaboration in May 2022, unveiling fresh designs for the Air Max 1 and Air Trainer 1 under the “CACT.US CORP” label. The product page on SNKRS referred to “Cactus Jack” rather than Scott personally. Additionally, it’s reported that the rapper donated a portion of the collaboration’s earnings to his Project HEAL initiative.

As I’m penning this down, the official release date for Mars Yard 3.0 remains undisclosed, but with a bit of luck and patience, we should be hearing more about it shortly.

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2024-09-30 18:26