Nike is taking one of the world’s most recognizable manga franchises into the sneaker market with Nike x One Piece, a new footwear and apparel collection that transforms the legendary Devil Fruits into three special editions of the Air Max Plus. The collaboration will begin rolling out in September, including a stop in Mexico City, before its global launch on SNKRS on September 25.
The sportswear company announced that the Nike x One Piece collection will combine elements of the Japanese manga with designs taken from Nike’s archives, bringing together sneakers, jerseys, T-shirts, caps and a vest.
At the center of the collaboration are three versions of the Nike Air Max Plus, each inspired by a different Devil Fruit from the One Piece universe: the Gomu Gomu no Mi, Ope Ope no Mi and Mera Mera no Mi.
According to Nike, the three fruits influenced the designs and color schemes of the shoes. The company also developed completely retooled uppers specifically for the collaboration, rather than simply applying One Piece graphics to existing Air Max Plus models.
What is included in the Nike x One Piece collection?
The collaboration extends beyond sneakers. Nike will launch apparel and accessories drawing on characters, symbols and illustrations from the manga.
The collection includes Air Max Plus sneakers, jerseys, T-shirts, caps and a vest. Some pieces incorporate actual manga panels, while others reinterpret illustrations using the visual language of classic Nike advertisements.
A special Nike x One Piece collaboration logo will also appear throughout the collection.
Among the most recognizable references are T-shirts inspired by the Jolly Roger drawn as “a mark of a promise” by Monkey D. Luffy, the protagonist of the series.
Nike also created a vest based on one of the consequences associated with Devil Fruits in the One Piece story: those who consume them gain extraordinary powers but are said to become “hated by the sea” and lose their ability to swim.
Devil Fruits become Nike Air Max Plus sneakers
The concept behind the collaboration connects the supernatural abilities of One Piece characters with the feeling Nike wants athletes to associate with its footwear.
“We were inspired by the superhuman abilities that are unleashed when One Piece characters eat the Devil Fruits, much like the feeling an athlete has when they put on a pair of Nikes,” said Nick Remlinger, GM, Energy Gaming, Nike.
The creative team subsequently turned to the Air Max Plus, one of Nike’s most recognizable lifestyle silhouettes, to develop the project.
“We then started reimagining the beloved Air Max Plus in a way that fans of the silhouette have never seen before,” Remlinger added.
Each of the three sneakers represents one of the manga’s famous Devil Fruits.
The Gomu Gomu no Mi is one of the central elements of Luffy’s story, while the Ope Ope no Mi and Mera Mera no Mi are also closely associated with some of the franchise’s most recognizable characters and storylines.
Nike said additional surprises related to the collaboration will be revealed as the launch progresses.
Nike connects sneakers, manga and sports culture
The partnership illustrates the growing intersection between sportswear, entertainment and fandom, with sneaker collections increasingly becoming platforms through which global brands connect with communities beyond traditional sports.
One Piece has developed an international audience through the original manga as well as its anime and live-action adaptations. Its cultural influence has also reached sports, where references to the series have appeared in athlete celebrations and performances.
Nike is using that connection as part of the marketing narrative surrounding the collection.
Through the collaboration, the company seeks to translate the franchise’s themes of courage, creativity, ambition and adventure into footwear and clothing, while positioning sport as a space for self-expression.
The project also follows a formula that has become increasingly important within sneaker culture: combining recognizable Nike silhouettes with entertainment franchises capable of mobilizing highly engaged global fan bases.
When does the Nike x One Piece collection launch?
The global Nike x One Piece launch is scheduled for September 25, 2026, through SNKRS.
The release calendar announced by Nike is:
- September 4-6: Tokyo pop-up.
- September 12: Hong Kong, Jakarta, Mexico City, Seoul, Shanghai, Taipei and Umeda.
- September 19: selected stores in Europe and the United States.
- September 25: global launch through SNKRS.
- October 16-18: retail experience in Sydney.
The staggered launch gives Nike an opportunity to build anticipation around the collection before making it broadly available through its sneaker platform.
Nike launches its One Piece collection with three Air Max Plus inspired by Devil Fruits, apparel and accessories. Read More