Matt Varga The fashion world has officially infiltrated the sneaker game. Though certainly there was already precedent for haute couture imprints putting their stamp on streetstyle, the confluence of loaferized, tabi-toed, ballet, and otherwise runway-minded models in venerable athletic brands’ catalogs goes a long way in explaining the current moment. The Swoosh has largely met those increasingly blurred lines via their miles-long backlog, including turn-of-the-century curios like the Nike Air Rift, now coming to the fore with an all-mesh build that mirrors some previous swings taken with the silhouette.
While the Air Rift Breathe was primarily marketed for the exact hardware shift shown here, it’s not a one-to-one replication of that mid-2010s offshoot. The differences primarily come on the spots in between the diamond-knit sections: synthetic fabric takes up the anchoring panels rather than further mesh applications, while the leather anchoring the straps carries a bit more texture than on the 2016 version. Despite these divergent particulars, overall the pitch for the Nike Air Rift in mesh remains the same in its embrace of warmer weather wear; the model just enters the mix at a moment where its original hardware closer aligns with the current fashion moment.
This all-black Nike Air Rift in mesh should arrive as a part of the Spring/Summer ’25 slate, likely maintaining its usual $130 retail price. Check out its complete suite of official images included just ahead.
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