Melitta Baumeister Took Nike's Weirdest Toe Shoe & Freaked It

Melitta Baumeister Took Nike's Weirdest Toe Shoe & Freaked It

What happens when Melitta Baumeister gets her hands on Nike's split-toed Air Rift sneaker? A strangely intriguing handmade sneaker is born.

For her second collaboration with the Swoosh, Baumeister has designed what she's calling an Air Rift Rocker. It's a remixed version of the revived tabi-toe model, featuring these dramatically chunky curved soles made from clay. Yes, you read that right. And there's more.

Other clay details, like the aglets and Swoosh icons, appear throughout the shoe. Meanwhile, Baumeister has also added shoelaces to the famously laceless shoe. Her signature eye and banana motifs make appearances, too.

Really, Baumeister's collab celebrates everything weird about the Nike Air Rift. She keeps the signature split toe box and midfoot strap, but blows them up and freaks them. For instance, literal split-human-toe graphics appear on the insoles and outsoles, nodding to the very detail that makes the Nikes weirdly cool.

Although quite offbeat, Baumeister's Nike shoes bring fresh energy to the sneaker industry. With her Pegasus Premiums, we witnessed the stylish running shoe turn into an art piece with greased-up uppers and piercing eyes. Again, 'twas strange, but it was unlike any other Pegasus Premium we'd seen before. And that's what made it good.

Same goes for her Air Rifts. They're freaky but clever, with a handcrafted feel.

The Melitta Baumeister x Nike Air Rift Rocker is set to debut in two colorways: brown and black. It will be joined by collaborative clothes like distorted track jackets, balloon-style trousers, and an oversized puffer coat.

It's all set to drop on November 5 on Melitta Baumeister's website. A wider release will follow.

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