Sha’Carri Richardson’s Nike Atelier Swarovski Collection Is A Flex

Nike Atelier is back with another wonderfully excessive creation, this time turning to track superstar Sha’Carri Richardson, the Vomero Premium, and another collection that has no desire to blend in.

After introducing the series earlier this summer with luxury-minded footwear rooted heavily in football aesthetics, Nike is pushing the concept somewhere considerably more theatrical for the showy Sha’Carri Richardson and Athlos A26 in London.

Richardson’s bespoke collection draws inspiration from London after rainfall, expressed through reflective surfaces, weathered textures, and Swarovski crystals intended to resemble droplets of water. The centerpiece for sneaker fans is an outrageous interpretation of the Nike Vomero Premium. Grey fleece completely envelops the shoe before extending above the knee toward the mid-thigh, effectively turning Nike’s max-cushion runner into a continuous sock-like piece of footwear. Hand-set Swarovski crystals cover the surface, while even the visible Zoom Air units underneath have been given a reflective treatment.

The concept extends throughout Richardson’s entire look via a reflective Atelier jacket that receives the same hand-set crystal treatment, and a computationally designed FlyWeb bra that provides precisely engineered fit and support. A miniature duffel made in Japan from crackled leather completes the collection, decorated with oversized charms referencing Richardson’s connection to track.

Richardson’s collection also expands our understanding of what Nike Atelier can be. Rather than establishing one recognizable aesthetic, Atelier increasingly looks like an opportunity for Nike to apply its enormous design resources directly to the personality of an athlete for the big stage.