For the first time, NikeSKIMS is bringing its bold, considered design ethos to footwear, beginning with the NikeSKIMS Rift.
The Nike Rift, the memorable split-toe running silhouette originally launched in the ’90s, returns with a twist. With sleek new design changes, memorable features include the iconic tabi toe designed to articulate with the foot, the single strap across the midfoot for quick entry and a secure fit, a minimalist midsole inspired by the Rift’s original focus on barefoot running and a textured logo outsole.
A shoe recrafted for effortless movement, the NikeSKIMS Rift is a silhouette with grace in its DNA. Its sleek, low-to-the-ground design completes a look to and from the studio and gym – or anywhere.
“There’s something so powerful and beautiful about a ballet flat, which is why reimagining the Nike Rift for the first NikeSKIMS sneaker felt perfect,” says Kim Kardashian. “The Rift isn’t just a shoe – it’s a 90s icon that women everywhere have fallen in love with. Together with Nike, we focused on creating a version that feels minimalist, sleek and flattering.”
The original Nike Air Rift, released in 1996, helped pave the way for today’s natural-motion footwear. Its most defining feature was the iconic tabi toe – a first for Nike footwear. The split-toe feature was inspired by Kenya’s Great Rift Valley fault line, and the shoe’s design included input from barefoot long-distance runners in Kenya. The split helped conform to the runner’s first and second toes, encouraging a more natural motion with every stride. The Nike Air Rift has since been revived as a coveted lifestyle silhouette, receiving its first re-release in 2015.
NikeSKIMS will offer additional footwear in future seasonal collections, completing a true head-to-toe system of dress that highlights a cornerstone of the NikeSKIMS approach: Designing premium product that celebrates every dimension of athleticism and allows you to move with confidence. NikeSKIMS will also continue to innovate and expand product offerings in each collection.
The NikeSKIMS Rift Mesh releases in North America on January 26 across Nike.com, Skims.com and select retail locations.
