Nike unveiled its latest collaboration with Skepta recently, with some help from Manchester United striker Mason Greenwood, but now, with both the Phantom Skepta and Nike Tailwind Skepta being available to pick up, we take a closer look at the Nike x Skepta pack.
First it was teased, then it was revealed, and now the latest Nike x Skepta pack is finally available to bag. Comprised of the Phantom GT x Skepta and the Nike Air Max Tailwind V Skepta, the pack sees London-born artist Skepta applying his creative vision to the world of football, while also continuing on the lifestyle vibe with a second corresponding colourway of the Tailwind sneaker. Sad that we won’t get to see Mason Greenwood wearing the Phantom at the Euros after he was ruled out through injury, but the United man had already made his mark in them in the closing games of the Premier League.
The Nike x Skepta pack sees the London-born artist applying his creative vision to the world of football for the first time, developing his existing relationship with Nike and taking it in a direction that centres on another of Skepta's passions. The artist has left an indelible mark on music in London and beyond with his game-changing flow and expansive creative universe — but he’s also had a profound impact on footwear by applying his aesthetic to a handful of iconic Nike Air Max designs over the years.
The two silhouettes share a wealth of design details — the red butterfly print applied to the uppers continues Skepta’s exploration of creative metamorphosis, while the chrome Swooshes and soleplate on the Phantom are inspired by the silver jewelry that’s an integral part of Skepta’s style. As on the previous Tailwind V x Skepta, the heels of both the red Phantom and the Air Max feature a subtle iridescent material as an eye-catching nod to the thermographic cover art of Skepta’s 2019 album “Ignorance Is Bliss.”
The Tailwind V then sees overlays across the upper in stark black accents, while the synthetic underlays show off the digitally printed red hues. The look is elevated with the chrome silver coatings on the mini Swoosh logo and heel clip, and co-branding details such as SK Air imprints on the tongue and Air Max on the heel.
Presenting the Phantom and the Nike Air Tailwind V together creates a full-circle view of Skepta's community-centered mentality.
“I love the culture around football as much as the game," Skepta said. "I'm really into the culture of football jerseys for what they represent. They represent ‘team,’” he says. “Going to matches is sick too. When you go to a match, you experience live people, live audio, all the things that the TV might miss ... you really feel it more than see it or hear it when you're there.”
Shop the Nike x Skepta pack at prodirectsoccer.com
