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NIKE ACG Holiday 20
[Nur Abbas interview]
[Nur Abbas interview]
NIKE ACG Holiday 20
[Nur Abbas interview]
[Nur Abbas interview]
Nike's archived outdoor ACG line is back for the Holiday 2020 season with a new spin. From now on, each collection will be dedicated to a different location, and this launch is dedicated to Smith Rock – a park and volcanic structure located in central Oregon, near the Nike's headquarters. Most of the collection consists of recycled materials, provided as part of company's "Move to Zero" sustainability program. For our team, it is interesting to see this rich arsenal of tech materials used in the entire collection: three-layer GORE-TEX in jackets, Polartec fleece, and PrimaLoft insulation in the middle layer. In addition, there are 2 models of shoes: the winter version of Air Nasu GORE-TEX and the new Mountain Fly GORE-TEX silhouette, with a React foam and a carbon fiber plate from the NEXT% line in the sole.
We had opportunity to talk to Nur Abbas, NIKE Design Director and ACG apparel designer about the thought process behind the new collection, previous NIKELAB ACG experience, and influence on other brands. Read the full interview below.
Questions: TECHUNTER magazine.
Answers: Nur Abbas [NIKE Design Director, ACG Apparel].
Photo: NIKE.
Questions: TECHUNTER magazine.
Answers: Nur Abbas [NIKE Design Director, ACG Apparel].
Photo: NIKE.
[What comes first in the design process for ACG?]
First we're thinking about planet Earth, whether that's the location that inspires the function and look of the collection, and equally about what effect it will have on the environment. We're constantly striving for more sustainable fabrics and processes while keeping a balance between performance and attitude.
First we're thinking about planet Earth, whether that's the location that inspires the function and look of the collection, and equally about what effect it will have on the environment. We're constantly striving for more sustainable fabrics and processes while keeping a balance between performance and attitude.
[How the heritage of Nike's outdoor lines influence your approach to creating the new generation of ACG?]
In many respects that might not be immediately obvious. It's great how well many of the heritage pieces of ACG apparel have lasted over the years and the identity that it had in the early days . We've got an amazing archive here that we visit regularly. However, we don't want to just replicate what the designers did in the 90's, we're trying to think about their process and what they would do with the current technology that's available. Hopefully there's a continuity to the designs on a deeper level than just taking the same logo.
In many respects that might not be immediately obvious. It's great how well many of the heritage pieces of ACG apparel have lasted over the years and the identity that it had in the early days . We've got an amazing archive here that we visit regularly. However, we don't want to just replicate what the designers did in the 90's, we're trying to think about their process and what they would do with the current technology that's available. Hopefully there's a continuity to the designs on a deeper level than just taking the same logo.
[What happened to the NIKELAB ACG line, which was more like for an urban jungle, and did you use the experience of this line in your new work?]
The previous incarnation of ACG definitely gave the city more consideration, but it was always with the outdoors in mind. The aesthetic changed at different points in time with ACG, but at the core it has always been about performance and utility in the outdoors. If it works for a weekend backpacking in the wilderness then we're sure it will also stand up to the weekdays daily commute in the city.
The previous incarnation of ACG definitely gave the city more consideration, but it was always with the outdoors in mind. The aesthetic changed at different points in time with ACG, but at the core it has always been about performance and utility in the outdoors. If it works for a weekend backpacking in the wilderness then we're sure it will also stand up to the weekdays daily commute in the city.
[Should we expect an eye-catching campaign? Like 1991 "Top 10 reasons" or 1981 "Worn to be wild" (Lava Dome release).]
We've given a lot of consideration to the imagery around the collection. The main thing has been to show off the incredible locations that inspired us, while keeping an element of the irreverence that ACG had in the early days. Even though we take the design of the gear very seriously, we don't want to take ourselves too seriously and hopefully there's an element of that that comes through with the message.
We've given a lot of consideration to the imagery around the collection. The main thing has been to show off the incredible locations that inspired us, while keeping an element of the irreverence that ACG had in the early days. Even though we take the design of the gear very seriously, we don't want to take ourselves too seriously and hopefully there's an element of that that comes through with the message.
[Can ACG influence other brands to move towards a fully closed loop production? Is it even necessary and why, if so?]
This is a joint effort and there's a common goal for everyone on the planet. Hopefully what we're doing inspires other brands to work on more sustainable practices, in the same way that we're looking to other brands that are already making an effort to have more sustainable practices. This is an area that we're happy that everyone is making progress!
This is a joint effort and there's a common goal for everyone on the planet. Hopefully what we're doing inspires other brands to work on more sustainable practices, in the same way that we're looking to other brands that are already making an effort to have more sustainable practices. This is an area that we're happy that everyone is making progress!
[How big of a role does cool factor and hype play in outdoor clothing in your opinion?]
It's important that people feel good and look good wearing our clothes. If the cool factor means that someone is going to wear the gear even after a trip into the outdoors and look after that piece because it has more value than just the materials, then we're doing something right. The most important things for us is that we're making an effort to make ACG more sustainable, perform better in the outdoors and look good; if that adds to the "cool factor" then I'm all for it!
It's important that people feel good and look good wearing our clothes. If the cool factor means that someone is going to wear the gear even after a trip into the outdoors and look after that piece because it has more value than just the materials, then we're doing something right. The most important things for us is that we're making an effort to make ACG more sustainable, perform better in the outdoors and look good; if that adds to the "cool factor" then I'm all for it!
[How far can ACG get you? What's the most extreme conditions you'd love to test your gear? We'd love to see ACG in Siberia!]
We'd like to do it all! We want ACG to be the best for the most people in the outdoors. If something works for the most extreme conditions, it usually means that it's extremely specialized and not so versatile for most conditions. The snow suit someone uses in the coldest parts of Siberia isn't going to be that useful for many conditions you'd encounter in the wilderness. Having a versatile layering system using fabrics that are proven to work is going to take you all the way in many more places!
We'd like to do it all! We want ACG to be the best for the most people in the outdoors. If something works for the most extreme conditions, it usually means that it's extremely specialized and not so versatile for most conditions. The snow suit someone uses in the coldest parts of Siberia isn't going to be that useful for many conditions you'd encounter in the wilderness. Having a versatile layering system using fabrics that are proven to work is going to take you all the way in many more places!
The ACG Holiday 2020 Apparel Collection releases November 12 on the Nike App and nike.com. The Nike ACG Mountain Fly GORE-TEX releases November 12 on SNKRS, and the latest Nike ACG Air Nasu GORE-TEX colorway drops on the Nike App and nike.com November 12.
Additional thanks to NIKE Russia for assistance in interview.
Read more about "the fusion of modern outdoor and fashion" in our new TECHUNTER 06 ONLINE digital issue at the link.
Additional thanks to NIKE Russia for assistance in interview.
Read more about "the fusion of modern outdoor and fashion" in our new TECHUNTER 06 ONLINE digital issue at the link.
