When Nike announced its first-ever collaboration with an Indian designer, it felt like a long time coming. For years, India has been at the heart of global fashion inspiration its textiles, colors, and craftsmanship often borrowed by international designers. But this time, something was different. India wasn't just an influence; it was the creator. And that shift in power, that shift in storytelling, makes this moment historic.

In the month of June, 2025, Nike officially launched a global collection co-created with NorBlack NorWhite, a homegrown fashion label known for blending traditional Indian crafts with modern streetwear. The collab is a riot of color, culture, and creativity—but more importantly, it’s a reflection of how Indian identity, particularly women’s identity, is being redefined.

Meet NorBlack NorWhite: Craft, Color & Cultural Rebellion

Founded by Mriga Kapadiya and Amrit Kumar, NorBlack NorWhite (NBNW) is not your average fashion label. It’s a movement. Over the years, NBNW has carved its own path by giving Indian heritage crafts a bold, unapologetic twist—think neon bandhani, oversized silhouettes, and playful design rooted in deep cultural knowledge. Their work isn’t just about reviving old techniques; it’s about reshaping how India sees itself not as a land of the past, but as a hotbed of future-facing creativity. So when Nike came calling, this wasn’t just a collaboration. It was a conversation. A chance to bring Indian culture to the global streetwear table on its own terms.

Bandhani Meets Streetwear: A Design Language of Movement

At the heart of the collection is bandhani, a centuries-old tie-dye technique that is typically passed down through generations. In this collection, it is reimagined across performance-ready tanks, tights, crop tops, shorts, and bags designed specifically for women and their daily movements. There’s a deep symbolism here: a craft born in community, now reworked for modern, urban, global Indian women who move through gyms, cities, and boardrooms with power. The bandhani isn’t decorative; it’s part of the story. It’s alive, in motion, and rooted in home. The collection also includes four new footwear designs: Air Max Craze, Motiva, Pegasus 41, and Calm slides. Each piece blends comfort with confidence and is designed to move with women wherever they go.

Designed by Women, For Women: A Personal Revolution

What makes this collab feel so personal is the women behind it. Mriga and Amrit have always put women, culture, and voice at the center of their work. In a world where streetwear often caters to a male gaze, this collection stands tall as a love letter to women’s strength, style, and stories.

“We hope each piece inspires women to draw into their own athletic mindset while navigating everyday life,” says Mriga. 

Whether it’s a jog in Delhi, a photoshoot in Mumbai, or dancing in a street in Toronto, these clothes are meant to feel like freedom. Amrit adds, “We want women to feel strong, stylish, and at home in their bodies, wherever they are.” There’s pride in every thread. Power in every pattern. 

The campaign for this collection doesn’t rely on models or actors. It features real Indian athletes, people who break barriers every day. Wrestler Anshu Malik, sprinter Priya Mohan, and cricketers Jemimah Rodrigues and Shafali Verma are all part of this powerful visual narrative. These women are not just wearing Nike—they’re owning their identities, performing on world stages while carrying the stories of their roots. Jemimah summed it up best: “Wearing Nike laced with Indian culture is a flex. It’s bold, rooted, and it’s ours.”

A Moment of Representation and Revolution

For millions of young Indians, especially women who grew up wearing Nike but never saw their own culture reflected in it, this collab is deeply emotional. It’s about finally being seen. Not through a borrowed lens, but through our own language, textures, and rhythm. The collection feels like a cultural reset. It reminds us that innovation doesn’t have to erase tradition; it can elevate it. And that style can be political, personal, and powerful all at once. 

The Nike x NorBlack NorWhite collection isn’t just a fashion drop. It’s a statement of identity, a celebration of craft, and a tribute to the generations that came before and the ones now shaping the future. It’s about owning your space, wearing your culture with pride, and moving through the world not just to fit in, but to stand out. And for the first time, Indian women get to do all of that in Nike.

Where to Buy: Nike stores worldwide and online at nike.com