A Fusion of Sportswear and Manga Lore
American sportswear giant Nike has officially unveiled a high-profile collaboration with the global manga phenomenon ‘One Piece.’ The collection, which marks a significant intersection between anime pop culture and athletic performance, features three distinct colorways of the Nike Air Max Plus, alongside an extensive apparel lineup including jerseys, T-shirts, caps, and a specialized vest. The collaboration is centered on the ‘Devil Fruit’ powers from the manga, with each footwear design mirroring the unique aesthetic and mythological attributes of the series’ core elements.
According to Nike, the collection aims to translate the ‘courage, creativity, and ambition’ of the ‘One Piece’ universe into tangible streetwear. Nick Remlinger, GM of Energy Gaming at Nike, noted that the design inspiration stems from the superhuman abilities unlocked by consuming Devil Fruits, drawing a parallel to the performance boost athletes experience when lacing up high-performance footwear.
Technical Design and Product Details
The standout pieces are the three Nike Air Max Plus iterations, each priced at USD 180. These include the Gomu Gomu no Mi (purple), Ope Ope no Mi (red), and Mera Mera no Mi (orange). Each sneaker features exclusive, retooled TPU-textured uppers designed to represent the visual identity of the respective fruits, complemented by contrasting tongues and laces. The apparel line further leans into the franchise’s lore, featuring T-shirts that rework classic Nike ad aesthetics with manga panels, as well as a vest that references the ‘Devil Fruit’ consequence of being unable to swim.
Strategic Global and Regional Rollout
Nike has adopted a staggered release strategy to manage demand and regional exclusivity. The rollout begins with localized pop-up events in Tokyo (September 4–6), followed by a wave of retail drops on September 12 in cities including Hong Kong, Jakarta, Mexico City, Seoul, Shanghai, Taipei, and Umeda. A third wave is scheduled for September 19, targeting major European and North American markets such as Amsterdam, London, Madrid, Milan, Dallas, and Washington, D.C. The global launch through the SNKRS platform is set for September 25, 2026, with an additional release in Australia scheduled for mid-October.
This multi-tiered approach allows the brand to maintain high engagement across diverse territories, utilizing both established retail partners like Patta and Offspring and direct-to-consumer digital channels.