Unboxing NikeSKIMS’ Take on the Love-It-Or-Hate-It Air Rift
The label’s latest Spring 2026 collection revamps the divisive split-toe silhouette.
Both a beloved and polarizing silhouette, the split-toe Air Rift introduced by Nike has seen many iterations, and the latest is with SKIMS.
Hypebae/John Manuel Gomez, Marco Soriano
Hypebae/John Manuel Gomez, Marco Soriano
Hypebae/John Manuel Gomez, Marco Soriano
The duo first joined forces back in the fall with the debut of NikeSKIMS, and now return with a new Spring 2026 collection led by the NikeSKIMS Rift Mesh. Merging casual and chic style sensibilities, the sporty silhouette sets itself apart from its cult-classic predecessors with a mesh alteration that offers breathability while also adding a sleek, sophisticated touch.
Made for a minimalist moment, the singular strap shoe is truly spring-appropriate, with three soft shades that complement the season. Earth tones take over the “tabi toe,” including Velvet Brown, Bone and Black colorways that remain effortless to style within your wardrobe rotation. This new take on the fan-favorite silhouette isn’t NikeSKIMS’ first foray into footwear. Just before the release of this trio, the joint venture brand dropped the now-sold-out NikeSKIMS Air Rift Satin as part of Drop 1 of its Spring 2026 collection.
Taking cues from the trendy “balletcore” aesthetic, the Air Rift Satin arrived as a flirtier, more feminine take on the archival silhouette, particularly in the “Silt Red” shade, reminiscent of the pastel color palette often associated with ballet. Initially released in 1996, the label kicked off the year with a modern revamp of the Air Rift, simultaneously celebrating its 30th anniversary. With each enhancement, the Air Rift reminds the fashion landscape why it’s a fan-favorite style, and for our Unboxing franchise, we got a closer look at what makes the silhouette so special.
See above for our sneak peek at the NikeSKIMS Rift Mesh – the love-it-or-hate-it sporty shoe that gets the girls talking.
The NikeSKIMS Rift Mesh is now available in Velvet Brown, Bone and Black on the official Nike and SKIMS’ websites.
