NikeLab's ACG collections are a reminder of how to combine form and function. When speaking with co-designer and Acronym co-founder Errolson Hugh last month, we were reassured that this upcoming collection would continue to provide end-users the technical performance that Hugh has perfected with Acronym, with the comfort and range-of-motion that athletes and consumers expect out of all Nike products. Unveiled today, the Holiday 2015 collection is the latest chapter in ACG innovation.
"The city is the ultimate landscape," says NikeLab Senior Design Director Jarrett Reynolds. Like Hugh, Reynolds is acutely aware of the range of urban "microclimates"—everything from stuffy subway cars and chilly office hallways—and designs with the understanding that the wearer will be shifting between several environments throughout their day.
It's precisely why ACG's outerwear is so multifunctional. For truly tough winter gear, the white Gore-Tex jacket has a deployable hood and waterproof outer to handle sudden snowstorms. The collection's balaclava is soft but strong, worn either to protect the neck, or as a seamless layer to your other outerwear.
The signature of the collection has to be the 2-in-1 long bomber jacket, which is virtually waterproof. Composed of a Gore-Tex outer, details like a secondary chest pocket prevent rain water from getting anywhere near your body as it rolls down the jacket. Like the Gore-Tex winter jacket, the 2-in-1 long bomber can be worn like a backpack when not in use.
But the team didn't sacrifice comfort for functionality, building the collection around the athletically-inspired "ACG fit block." This means each item is made to move with the wearer, thanks to thoughtful seam placement and joint articulation. Performance materials such as Gore-Tex®, Nike Tech Fleece and Nike Dri-FIT Wool make sure that you're going to be warm and dry, no matter what mother nature decides to do. Simply put, it's one of the most comfortable ACG collections to date.
For footwear, shoppers can rest easy with the NikeLab ACG Flyknit Lupinek SFB, a sneakerboot that's just as weather-ready as the apparel. On the outside, the shoe is a combination of lightweight Flyknit with the water-resisting Defender Repellant System on the upper. Memory foam on the collar of the boot creates a comfortable fit, set upon a Nike Free-inspired outsole for flexible footwork.
If you're interested in copping your share of the NikeLab ACG Holiday collection, the garments drop online and at NikeLab retailers on Dec. 3.
