Knwls, the London-based fashion label known for its gritty femininity and avant-garde sensibility, made a headline-grabbing debut at Milan Fashion Week in September 2025 via an exclusive Nike collaboration that has sparked a new wave of tech-meets-clubwear athletic aesthetics. The Spring/Summer 2026 collection, fittingly titled “Synergy,” showcased Knwls’ ability to merge complex tailoring and fearless athleticism with Nike’s sports-tech legacy, producing a runway moment that bridged the gap between clubwear, sports performance, and next-gen luxury
The Collection
The Knwls x Nike capsule stands at the “warped intersection” of both brands, comprising technical apparel, footwear, and accessories engineered for versatile movement and style. Key pieces include corseted jackets in weatherproof, lightweight fabrics threaded with reflective accents, and the reimagined Razr bag—finished with rugged nylon, leather, and a rubber base inspired by Nike’s classic waffle outsole
The centerpiece: the Nike Air Max Muse, “KNWLS-ified” with angular silhouettes and corset-like lacing—a hybrid design inspired by ballet pointe shoes and vintage football trainers, offered in iridescent green, all-black, and a red-accented pink variant. The result is a sneaker equally suited to statement dressing and active lifestyles, capturing both brands’ commitment to innovation and self-possessed femininity.
Technology and Craft
Nike’s advanced fabric technologies are recalibrated through Knwls’ distinct lens, elevating heritage silhouettes with futuristic structure and utility. The synergy extends to textiles: Knwls’ partnership with TENCEL™ for sustainable jersey button-down dresses and leggings demonstrates a commitment to both comfort and environmental innovation. These pieces—characterized by ruched draping and anatomical seam detailing—reinforce Knwls’ obsession with craft, durability, and versatility.
The collaboration’s intentional blending of performance and fashion is further showcased in utility miniskirts with reflective thread accents, Flyknit-inspired garments adapted from Nike’s Fenom bra, and accessories that adopt function-first construction molded for nightlife and sport
Charlotte Knowles, co-founder of Knwls, described the project as more than a brand evolution: “It’s quite exciting for us. We’ve been doing this for eight years so, we’ve just been looking forward to connecting with new people. This is the new future of the brand. We love our British community but there’s so much potential in the rest of the world. We want to shake things up.”
Origin Story and Brand Journey
Founded in 2017 by Charlotte Knowles and Alexandre Arsenault, Knwls previously built its reputation on London and New York runways, rapidly gaining international momentum for its provocative blend of structure, femininity, and subcultural edge. The Milan debut signifies a pivotal expansion for the brand, moving from cult favorite to global contender by leveraging the visibility and technical sophistication of Nike. Discussions about the Nike collaboration began “nearly five years ago,” according to Knowles, and the design process itself spanned two and a half years to ensure timelessness
Funding and Commercial Impact
While specific funding details of the collaboration remain undisclosed in official releases, Knwls’ partnership with Nike is widely recognized as a strategic move to amplify its commercial scale, positioning the label for broader distribution and premium collaborations. Nike, too, continues its mission to aggregate new customers, expanding its reach through innovative partnerships with fashion’s hottest emerging labels. The Air Max Muse Ballet, the key footwear piece, is set for global release via Nike.com and select retailers, retailing at $200.
Beyond Gym and Club
Critics agree that the Knwls x Nike debut redefines athletic luxury at Milan Fashion Week, balancing fierce, technical detail with radical wearability. The collection is “fit for the gym, a club, or anywhere in between,” with body-contouring lines, exaggerated proportions, and material innovation signaling a liberated vision of contemporary style
Conclusion
Knwls’ Milan runway debut, turbocharged by its Nike collaboration, has generated industry-wide buzz—cementing its place as a top contender in the new athletic-luxury crossover space. As Charlotte Knowles put it, “We want to shake things up,” and with Synergy, Knwls is doing exactly that—turning athletic aesthetics and technology into the new signatures for global fashion’s next chapter.
