Quick Facts
- The ballet sneaker trend is dominating 2025, and Nike leans in with the Air Rift Lace Black Swan W.
- Classic mesh, neoprene, and tabi toes meet satin ribbons that wrap the calves, plus a cushioned Phylon midsole and velcro straps.
- Launching Fall 2025 for $130 in women’s sizing, it’s one of Nike’s boldest lifestyle-meets-performance experiments yet.
The Nike Air Rift Lace Black Swan W has landed, and it’s probably one of the most unexpected – yet strangely inevitable – drops of 2025.
First released in '96, the Air Rift was inspired by Kenyan barefoot runners, borrowing its name from the Great Rift Valley. With its split-toe tabi design, neoprene build, and lightweight cushioning, it was unlike anything else on the market at the time. Over the years, the silhouette has drifted between cult performance shoe and fashion favorite, resurfacing in bold collaborations, regional exclusives, and lifestyle reworks that highlight its avant-garde appeal.
Adam Cheung is a writer and editor who specialises in sneakers and streetwear. Over the past few years, he's curated features and guides for everyone from Burberry to Nike. Often travelling between the UK and Hong Kong, don't be too surprised if you find Adam anywhere else around the world taking street photography or feasting on the local delicacies.
