Nike makes history with first-ever collab with an Indian designer

Time of India

11-06-2025

For the first time ever, Nike has teamed up with an Indian fashion label and the result is a powerful, joyful celebration of color, movement, and heritage. The global sportswear giant has joined hands with NorBlack NorWhite, a homegrown label known for its playful aesthetics and deep connection to Indian craft.
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Together, they've created a collection that goes far beyond fashion, it's about representation, movement, and reclaiming space.
Launching globally on June 11, the Nike x NorBlack NorWhite collection is packed with bold silhouettes and even bolder storytelling. This historic collab isn't just about cool kicks and statement sets, it's about bringing Indian craftsmanship to the global stage in a way that feels fresh, unapologetic, and distinctly desi.
Bandhani meets sportswear
At the heart of the collection is bandhani, a centuries-old Indian tie-dye technique that's been reimagined across sleek, sporty pieces meant to move with women through every part of their day, whether they're hitting the gym, racing through city streets, or unwinding in style.
From vibrant tanks and cropped tees to bold bras, shorts, tights, and a must-have crossbody bag, each piece wears its culture with pride. And with four new footwear styles - including the Nike Air Max Craze, Motiva, Pegasus 41, and Calm slides—this drop brings the perfect balance of performance and personality.
Designed by women, for women
What makes this collection even more meaningful is who's behind it. NorBlack NorWhite, led by co-founders Mriga Kapadiya and Amrit Kumar, has always spotlighted the artistry and craft traditions of India through a bold, modern lens. Their work has long honored the people and techniques behind Indian textiles—and now, they're bringing that spirit to one of the biggest stages in global fashion.
'This collection shines a light on the rigor, dedication, and ancestral knowledge that's rooted in Indian culture,' Mriga shares.
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'We hope each piece inspires women to draw into their own athletic mindset while navigating everyday life in India and around the world.'
Amrit adds, 'We want women to feel strong, stylish, and at home in their bodies, wherever they are in their journey. These patterns, these colors, they're a statement. Women aren't here to just show up. We're here to take over.'
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Not just a campaign!
The campaign behind the collection is just as powerful as the pieces themselves.
It features Indian athletes who are rewriting the rules of sport - like wrestler Anshu Malik, sprinter Priya Mohan, and cricketers Jemimah Rodrigues and Shafali Verma. These are women who know what it means to break barriers and now, they're doing it in looks that feel authentically them.
'What really hits different about this collab is that it was designed here, by people who get our vibe,' Jemimah says. 'Wearing Nike laced with Indian culture is a flex.
It's bold, rooted, and it's ours.'
A cultural reset
In a world where global brands often borrow from cultures without credit, this collaboration sets a new precedent. It's not just inspired by Indian culture, it's built in collaboration with it. Every pattern, color, and silhouette is grounded in history, elevated by craft, and brought into the now through NorBlack NorWhite's vision and Nike's global platform.
This isn't just a fashion moment - it's a cultural one. One that reminds us that tradition and innovation don't have to be at odds, they can dance together, move together, and create space for everyone.
The Nike x NorBlack NorWhite collection drops June 11, 2025.