Nike works in collaboration with the iconic sushi restaurant Nobu on the Sushi Force 1 sneaker model, which takes the signature Air Force 1 shoe as the canvas base. The collaboration is led by Nobuyuki Matsuhisa, Nobu's owner, and Chris Stamp, head of the clothing company Stampd. The shoes are designed in a triple white colorway and feature branding that nods to the Beverly Hills Sushi Club on the tongue and heel. The middle of the logo is detailed with a pair of chopsticks motif.
Stamp unveils the collaboration online on Instagram with a caption that notes "Honored to have worked together with @Nike and @therealnobu to create a limited amount of ‘SF-1s’. With the AF1 being my favorite shoe of all time and a true staple of Los Angeles, much like the menu at Matsuhisa, it was only right to add this one to the uniform."
Sushi Restaurant-Inspired Sneakers
Nike and Nobu Join Forces on the Sushi Force 1 Sneaker
Trend Themes
1. Collaborative Sneaker Designs - Opportunity for footwear and fashion brands to partner with restaurants, hotels, and other hospitality venues for creative sneaker collaborations.
2. Cultural Mashup Marketing - Innovative marketing campaigns that blend two seemingly disparate cultural elements together to create a new and unique product offering, which can attract new consumer demographics and expand brand appeal.
3. Food-inspired Apparel - Growing trend of fashion lines and sneaker designs inspired by iconic restaurants and food cultures, which could present opportunities for apparel brands to enter the food industry through merchandise collaborations.
Industry Implications
1. Footwear Industry - Industry players can collaborate with restaurants, hotels, and other hospitality venues to come up with unique sneaker designs that cater to food and travel enthusiasts and create novelty products that boost brand excitement, resulting in potential sales growth.
2. Hospitality Industry - Opportunity for hospitality companies to collaborate with fashion brands to create co-branded merchandise that extends their brand reach, generate buzz around the brand and strengthen customer loyalty.
3. Food and Beverage Industry - Opportunity for restaurant and food brands to collaborate with fashion brands to offer their customers new and unique merchandise, which can lead to increased brand awareness and new customer acquisition.