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.
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.
Nike Air Rift Lace Black Swan W
That makes its latest evolution feel right at home. The ballet sneaker trend has pirouetted across the industry this year, with brands from Maison Margiela to Puma riffing on pointe shoes, satin ribbons, and choreographed elegance. Blending sport and stage, ballet-inspired models have become the unlikely stars of 2025, bringing soft femininity, experimental flair, and performative drama to a category usually dominated by hardcourt and track DNA.
That’s why the Air Rift Lace Black Swan W makes so much sense. While it retains the classic mesh and neoprene construction and signature tabi toes, it elevates the look with removable satin ribbons that lace up the calves like a dancer’s shoe. A chunky Phylon midsole ensures max comfort, while midfoot and heel Velcro straps keep the fit locked down.
The Nike Air Rift Lace Black Swan W was already released overseas earlier this year, but a US drop is expected in the Fall/Holiday 2025 season. It will be released exclusively in women’s sizing for $130. For your best chance at copping a pair, download Sole Retriever’s mobile app and stay plugged into the latest sneaker drops, raffles, restocks, release reminders, and breaking news across the ever-shifting world of sneakers and streetwear.
