Feng Chen Wang Joins Nike In Designing An Inclusive Future For All

Most childhood habits drift as we age, but some stick for good; fashion designer Feng Chen Wang knows this better than anyone. What started with customising a pair of worn-out sneakers to prevent her parents from throwing them out led the designer to find her true calling in life - launching her namesake brand.

Renowned for her sustainable and innovative approach to clothing, the Chinese-born, London-based menswear designer is at the forefront of a new generation of fashion talent, a position that has established the designer's longstanding collaboration with Nike. Projects in her Nike portfolio include the custom Air Jordan High shoes previewed in her S/S 18 show and her cutting-edge technology installation pieces for NikeLab's The Vision-Airs exhibition. Feng Chen Wang's resume doesn't stop there; her influence extends far beyond partnerships with major sports brands, as seen during the Beijing Winter Olympics in 2022, where flag bearers proudly wore uniforms designed by Wang.

Nike's latest collaboration with Wang continues the brand's dedication to backing female talent: a tradition of inviting female-identifying designers to manifest their vision of a world existing beyond the gender confinements that have segregated sportswear for so long. Earlier this year, Fen Cheng Wang fronted a Nike campaign directed by Yoon Ahn of AMBUSH that celebrated women in creative and sports fields. Shortly after, the British-Jamaican designer and menswear titan Martine Rose designed her second Nike collaboration, offering the US Women's National Team tailored uniforms and a gender-neutral collection for the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup.

The new collection of highly functional garments features a versatile, reversible jacket that can be worn in more than 30 ways, enabling various forms of self-expression and body movement. 'This jacket is a perfect example of how products can be designed with inclusiveness and versatility in mind', said Wang. Designing with true innovation in mind, many pieces in Wang's collection make up athletic attire that can be worn by anyone, highlighting the importance of sportswear when it comes to empowering individuals, regardless of their gender identity. 'Regardless of gender, age, body type, or what sports one likes to play, everyone can take pieces of a garment apart and combine them until a perfect match is found', Wang added.

Wang's universe is as inviting as her gender-bending designs, all of which make up a Nike collaboration that empowers, inspires and provides hope for other female designers wishing to follow in Wang's footsteps. Finally there's an opportunity to bring to life a world where sustainable clothing can be as fluid as the people wearing it.