London-based Afro-futuristic brand YAKU, has teamed up with Nike ReCreate to launch a collaborative capsule collection, exclusively available at LN-CC from 8 May 2026. Bringing together performance, fantasy and reconstruction, the collection transforms classic Nike silhouettes into futuristic pieces inspired by the RPG-style universe created by designer Yaku Stapleton.
Continuing YAKU’s theme of endless possibilities and imagining worlds beyond our own, familiar Nike forms are evolved into expressive characters from the YAKU universe. The collection plays with shape, movement and storytelling, merging sportswear with sculptural design.
Key pieces include the “Techyfleece” garments; an evolution of the classic Nike Tech Fleece zip-up jacket reconstructed with reflective spike mohawks and removable shoulder pads. Joggers are transformed into oversized, baggier silhouettes designed for limitless movement, referencing YAKU’s recent London Fashion Week Autumn/Winter presentation where RPG-inspired characters appeared frozen mid-combat.
Inspired by Yaku’s childhood memories, alongside the people and environments that shaped him, the collection balances fantasy with familiarity. Classic chore jackets are reworked with foam plating inspired by mythical weaponry and ancient inscriptions, while caps become dragon shaped headwear. Backpacks are transformed into sculptural, three dimensional forms influenced by sea cucumbers and crocodilian textures, adding a creature-like energy throughout the collection.
The footwear continues the same approach, turning classic Nike Air Max silhouettes into prehistoric inspired pieces, referencing ankylosaurs and woolly rhinoceroses.
The collaboration marks a fullcircle moment for both YAKU and Nike ReCreate. Nearly three years ago, Yaku Stapleton presented handmade “Creature Shoes” during his graduate showcase, using paper from school bins and fabric scraps to reconstruct Nike Air Force silhouettes. At the same time, Nike Re-Create was beginning its own journey exploring the possibilities of creating products from what already exists.
Today, those journeys come together in a collection that celebrates experimentation, craftsmanship and future focused design. Each piece is unique, preserving elements of the original garments while pushing them into a new universe where performance, sustainability and Afro-futurism converge.
The YAKU x Nike ReCreate collection is exclusively available at LN-CC from 8th May 2026.