Nike Air Rift
The Nike Air Rift is a running shoe that debuted in 1995. Inspired by runners in Kenya, the shoe name itself is inspired by Great Rift Valley that runs through the African country. It’s debut colorway also references the Kenyan flag with colors black, red, green, and white. The Air Rift is most recognized for its split-toe design that nods to Maison Margiela’s Tabi.
The Air Rift gained a huge cult following in Tokyo in the 1990s and has since risen as the exemplar of if-you-know-you-know sneakers. Sneaker collectors and fashionistas that area ahead of the curve have always loved the Air Rift.
In late 2024, Nike reintroduced the Air Rift in premium suede colorways while also dropping the original “Kenya” colorway exclusively overseas. In 2025, the Air Rift gained appeal to the mainstream women’s lifestyle movement.
Nike Air Rift
Trendy “Silver Metallic” Dawns On The Nike Air Rift
As most know, fashion is largely cyclical. When you put out as many models on a yearly basis as Nike does, you can simply reach...
Nike Brings Botanical Stitching To The Air Rift
Inspired by the barefoot runners of Kenya, the Nike Air Rift from the 1990s has found new life among today’s young generation of consumers. Due...
Nike’s Ballet-Themed Air Rift “Black Swan” Is Coming Soon
As “balletcore” fashion continues having its social media moment, Nike is once again giving the Air Rift a ballerina-inspired makeover. Revisiting a style first seen...
Nike Adds Buckled Straps To The Air Rift
It doesn’t take a genius to understand why the Nike Air Rift has been getting more love as of late. Balletcore is the “it” aesthetic...
Nike’s Tabi-Toed Air Rift Is Coming Soon In “Healing Orange”
Women’s lifestyle sneakers continue to shift to even slimmer and lower-profile proportions, with some even adopting the high-fashion Tabi-toe. Nike’s here to remind you that...
The Nike Air Rift Echoes Its Breathe Cut With Mesh Panelling
The fashion world has officially infiltrated the sneaker game. Though certainly there was already precedent for haute couture imprints putting their stamp on streetstyle, the...
Nike Rolls Out The Fashion-Minded Air Rift For A “Suede Pack”
Nike’s backlog is simply so expansive that most times, in order to meet the cyclical demands of fashion trends, all they need to do is...
The All-Leather Nike Air Rift Gets Doused In “Fire Red”
The tabi-toe Nike shoe inspired by the barefoot runners of Kenya is getting a classy upgrade for Holiday 2024. Traditionally comprised of elastics, the Air...
Nike Remixes The Air Rift Into A Ballet Shoe
In the latest SNKRS showcase, Nike tacitly tipped off the Air Rift as an emphasized model down the stretch, unveiling two all-leather constructions as it...