Nike x One Piece collection brings Devil Fruits to sneakers and streetwear

Nike has announced a collaboration with the manga and anime franchise One Piece, drawing inspiration from the series' Devil Fruits — the fruits that grant characters superhuman abilities. The collection centers on three completely redesigned Air Max Plus sneakers, alongside jerseys, T-shirts, caps, and a vest.

The shoes are themed after three Devil Fruits: Gomu Gomu no Mi, associated with protagonist Monkey D. Luffy; Ope Ope no Mi, wielded by Trafalgar D. Water Law; and Mera Mera no Mi, also known as the Flame-Flame Fruit. Nike replaced the Air Max Plus's typical upper with new molded patterns based on the fruits' shapes, colors, and supernatural abilities.

"We were inspired by the superhuman abilities that are unleashed when One Piece characters eat the Devil Fruits," Nick Remlinger, Nike Energy Gaming general manager, said in the brand's announcement.

The Gomu Gomu Air Max Plus is purple and neon green, representing the fruit that gives Luffy rubber-like abilities. The Ope Ope version features berry-red and green hues, reflecting the fruit that lets its user manipulate objects and people within a "Room." The Mera Mera design uses a fiery orange, yellow, and green color scheme, referencing the Flame-Flame Fruit's fire powers.

Release schedule and availability

The collection begins its international rollout on Sept. 4, ahead of a global SNKRS launch on Sept. 25, as reported by al.com. In Japan, the shoes are priced at 27,500 yen (about US$173.10), while the U.S. global standard pricing is US$210, according to SoraNews24. al.com reports that each of the three Air Max Plus styles is priced at $180 in the U.S., though availability varies by color and location.

The Gomu Gomu Air Max Plus will be offered through a SNKRS preorder in the United States beginning Sept. 25, with select Gomu Gomu apparel receiving a global SNKRS release the same day, according to al.com. The Ope Ope Air Max Plus will arrive at select U.S. and European retailers on Sept. 19; U.S. stores include Politics in Dallas, Sole Play in Decatur and Lawrenceville, Georgia, Arts & Rec in San Diego, and Somewhere in Washington, D.C.

The Mera Mera Air Max Plus will not receive a U.S. release based on Nike's current schedule, according to al.com. That colorway will be sold through select retailers in Japan, Korea, China, Taiwan, Indonesia, and Mexico beginning Sept. 12, before an Australian release in October.

Tokyo pop-up and customization events

For fans in Japan, the collection debuts with a three-day pop-up at Dr. B's Research Lab in Harajuku, Tokyo, running from Sept. 4 to 6, with advance lottery for entry and purchases, as detailed by SoraNews24. The lottery opens at 7:30 p.m. on Aug. 23 and closes at 11:59 p.m. on Aug. 26. The pop-up store, located at Jingumae 1-13-14, Harajuku Quest B1F, THE HALL, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, will be open from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. each day.

An exclusive Nike Vest, priced at 45,100 yen, will be available only at the Tokyo pop-up, according to SoraNews24. The collection also includes two Nike Solo Swoosh T-shirts: "Promise of Battle" at 6,930 yen and "Gomu Gomu no Ono" at 9,680 yen.

Nike By You customization will be available at Nike Harajuku from Sept. 4 to 11 and at Nike Umeda in Osaka from Sept. 12 to 19, with small graphics priced at 1,000 yen and large sizes at 1,200 yen, SoraNews24 reports. Nike Umeda, located at 5-54 Ofukacho, Grand Green Osaka South Building 1F, Kita-ku, Osaka, will host an event on Sept. 12 from 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., with special entry at 8:30 a.m. for lottery winners. The Mera Mera range will be sold at Nike Umeda on Sept. 12, ahead of the global SNKRS release on Sept. 25.

Apparel details and design nods

The collection includes T-shirts featuring One Piece manga panels styled like classic Nike ads, a joint Nike and One Piece logo, and a Jolly Roger based on Luffy's drawing, according to al.com. The vest references the Devil Fruit drawback that leaves users unable to swim, a detail noted by both outlets. The shoes are complemented by matching Air Max Plus jerseys and caps drawn from the Nike archive, released alongside exclusive apparel.