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NikeSKIMS is officially entering the footwear space, and it’s doing so with a familiar yet reworked silhouette: the NikeSKIMS Rift. Known until now for body-focused apparel and accessories, the brand is expanding into shoes with a clear aim: to create a complete head-to-toe look that moves easily between training, studio time and everyday wear.
The NikeSKIMS Rift marks the first shoe designed under the NikeSKIMS name, bringing together Nike’s sportswear history and SKIMS’ sharp focus on fit, shape and feel.
A 90s icon reworked for today
The starting point for this release is the Nike Air Rift, first launched in 1996. At the time, it stood out for its split-toe design, something Nike had never done before. The idea came from barefoot long-distance runners in Kenya and from the Great Rift Valley fault line, which inspired both the name and the structure of the shoe.
The split toe was designed to sit around the first and second toes, helping the foot move in a more natural way. Over the years, the Air Rift has moved from a performance running shoe to a cult lifestyle piece, with its first major re-release arriving in 2015.
Now, nearly three decades later, NikeSKIMS gives the Rift a new direction.
Design details of the NikeSKIMS Rift
The NikeSKIMS Rift keeps the most recognisable features of the original while refining the shape and finish. The tabi-style split toe remains the focus, allowing the shoe to move with the foot rather than against it. A single strap across the midfoot makes it easy to slip on and off, while still holding the foot securely in place.
The midsole is kept low and minimal, nodding to the Rift’s early connection to barefoot running. This gives the shoe a close-to-the-ground feel and a light step. Underfoot, a textured logo outsole adds grip while clearly marking the shoe as part of the NikeSKIMS line.
The overall shape is slim and clean, designed to work just as well with activewear as it does with off-duty outfits.
From studio to street
The NikeSKIMS Rift is designed for movement, but not only in a sports setting. Its low profile and soft mesh upper make it easy to wear from the gym to the street without needing a change of shoes. It fits naturally into the kind of wardrobe NikeSKIMS has been building, pieces that follow the body and support it throughout the day.
Kim Kardashian explains the thinking behind the design by pointing to ballet flats as a reference. She describes the Rift as a long-loved 90s shoe and says the goal was to create a version that feels clean, minimal and flattering, while still keeping what made the original so popular.
A new direction for NikeSKIMS
The Rift is only the beginning. NikeSKIMS has confirmed that more footwear styles will follow in future seasonal collections. The aim is to build a full system of dress, where shoes, clothing, and accessories work together to support different forms of movement and activity.
This approach reflects a wider idea at the core of NikeSKIMS: creating premium products that recognise different bodies, different ways of moving and different ideas of athleticism, all while helping the wearer feel confident.
With the NikeSKIMS Rift, the brand takes a confident first step into footwear. By revisiting a well-known Nike silhouette and reshaping it through the NikeSKIMS lens, the result feels familiar yet current. It respects the Rift’s history while updating it for modern wardrobes and everyday movement. If this first release is any sign of what is coming next, NikeSKIMS footwear is set to become a key part of the brand’s growing design story.
The NikeSKIMS Rift Mesh was launched in North America on January 26, and it will be available through Nike.com, Skims.com and selected retail locations across the US.
