In 1992, The North Face introduced the Nuptse as part of its revolutionary Expedition System, a layering system designed for high-altitude conditions and tested by the brand’s elite athletes. The jacket was designed by Ingrid Harshbarger, who had already contributed to the creation of another of The North Face’s most recognisable garments: the Denali.

For the Nuptse, The North Face developed a new baffle construction that reduced down migration and improved the jacket’s ability to retain warmth. Its distinctive colour-blocked design also served a purpose: increasing climbers’ visibility in extreme conditions.

A solution originally conceived for the mountains would eventually become one of The North Face’s most recognisable design signatures. A new path was opening up on the streets, where the Nuptse began to be adopted as a symbol.

In 1996, the Nuptse received its first update. From that moment on, its story would continue to grow far beyond the environment for which it had originally been designed.

The Same Perspective. Something Different.

The North Face Nuptse was born in the mountains but grew up on the streets. It evolved through new designs and collaborations that opened up new directions, all while staying connected to its origins.

Over the years, the jacket originally created for high-altitude conditions found new territory on the streets. Its volume, colours and technical character resonated with a generation that approached clothing differently.

The Nuptse went from accompanying expeditions to becoming part of the urban landscape. Its silhouette became a symbol of creativity and personal expression, embraced by those who were also looking for different paths.

This ability to evolve while maintaining its identity lies at the heart of the new generation of Nuptse. A collection that preserves the silhouette that made the jacket an icon while revisiting its roots to take it into new territory.

And that ability to move between two worlds continues to define the Nuptse today.

Back to the Mountains

This season, The North Face looks back to where it all began. The new Summit Nuptse revisits the silhouette’s alpine heritage and takes it to a new level, designed for more extreme conditions.

Its construction features 800-fill ProDown™ insulation with a water-repellent finish and Cloud Down technology, designed to reduce cold spots and improve thermal performance. The result is a warm, lightweight and more compressible jacket, ready to provide protection when conditions truly demand it.

The design retains some of the features that have made the Nuptse instantly recognisable, including its signature oversized baffles, while incorporating them into a more technical construction.

This is the Nuptse returning to its roots. Revisiting its origins to continue moving forward.

One Classic, Two Paths

The other side of this evolution comes with the new Nuptse featuring Pertex® Quantum. A version that preserves the connection between mountain and city that has defined the silhouette for decades, while introducing a new way to experience it.

Its Pertex® Quantum fabric uses a tightly woven structure of extremely fine yarns that helps keep the insulation in place and allows the down to achieve its full loft. The result is a lightweight, soft fabric that enhances both comfort and thermal performance. Its water-repellent finish provides additional protection against light rain and snow.

The classic silhouette is also updated with a reversible construction that allows you to change its appearance depending on the moment. Two sides, two possibilities, one Nuptse.

Because leading the way doesn’t always mean following the same path.

A Story That Keeps Moving Forward

The name Nuptse comes from a Himalayan mountain located southwest of Everest. In Tibetan, “Nup” means west and “Tse” means peak. A name that connects the jacket to the territory where The North Face has historically faced some of its greatest challenges.

Since 1992, the Nuptse has continued to evolve. First, as part of a system created for the most demanding high-altitude conditions. Later, as a garment capable of crossing boundaries and finding its own place in urban culture.

Now, it looks in both directions once again: towards the mountain that gave it its name and the streets that turned it into a cultural icon. An example of evolution.

Technology and Style Take Center Stage

Between 2005 and 2015, running shoes moved beyond the minimalism of the 1990s. Functionality became the driving force behind design, with layered constructions, visible reinforcements, and technical midsoles standing out not only for performance but also for aesthetics. Technology, once hidden, became a key feature. Visible cushioning and supports marked an era where innovation and style naturally intertwined.

Trail Running Finds Its Name

Trail running existed from the sport’s early days, but in the early 21st century, adventure raids—hybrid competitions combining multiple disciplines—evolved into dedicated running events. Brands like Asics, Mizuno, Saucony, adidas, and Salomon introduced products specifically for trail runners, driving the creation of innovative designs tailored to these new demands.

The Rise of Wearables and Communities

The decade also saw the emergence of Nike+ and miCoach, the first connected running systems. Though primitive by today’s standards, they established the link between sneakers, performance, and technology. Meanwhile, brands started promoting running clubs: sharing routes, stats, and achievements transformed running into a social experience. Running became a vehicle for identity and belonging.

Silhouettes Out of Context: From Track to Street

Today, these sneakers enjoy a second life on city streets. Just as functional workwear evolved into lifestyle fashion, running aesthetics transitioned from pure performance to a distinctive urban style. Models designed for marathons or trail runs are paired with everyday clothing, creating a hybrid look that celebrates both comfort and the runners’ legacy. Interest in “hidden gems” beyond the classic 80s and 90s designs drives this revival: the Kinvara, Streak 3, or Wave Prophecy offer ergonomic performance and character without losing their identity.

Rediscovery and Cultural Relevance

This resurgence carries a touch of nostalgia—not for a history decades old, but for products truly experienced. Beyond nostalgia, it reflects the search for silhouettes that merge performance, aesthetics, and practicality. The designs from 2005–2015 demonstrate how running could be expression, technology, and urban culture simultaneously. By integrating these shoes into everyday life, consumers reconnect with a period that redefined technical footwear, translating it into urban fashion and creating a trend that dominates today’s shop windows and social media feeds.

Pokémon emerged in the 1990s, at a time when trading creatures between two consoles with a cable felt almost like magic. Video games, trading cards, anime and merchandise quickly turned Pikachu and company into a defining part of popular culture for an entire generation.

Three decades later, Pokémon has achieved something even more difficult: avoiding becoming frozen in nostalgia. Each new generation has found its own gateway into the Pokémon universe, from new video game releases and mobile apps to collecting, fashion and collaborations. That ability to evolve without losing its identity makes its partnership with adidas particularly fitting.

adidas x Pokémon: Classics Reimagined

The 30th anniversary collection brings different Pokémon characters to some of adidas’ most recognisable silhouettes, using colours, textures and subtle details to translate each creature’s personality into footwear.

Pikachu, unsurprisingly, takes centre stage. The franchise’s most recognisable character appears across several adidas x Pokémon Superstar Pikachu versions, from a yellow pair with a furry finish to a white edition covered in Pikachu graphics. The same visual language continues on the adidas x Pokémon Superstar Mid Pikachu, which brings those yellow, textured cues to a high-top silhouette.

Charmander’s evolution line also gets its own progression throughout the collection. The adidas x Pokémon Superstar Charmander combines cream and orange tones to echo the Fire-type Pokémon, while the adidas x Pokémon Superstar Charmeleon takes on a sharper, more aggressive look with details inspired by its claws. The sequence culminates in the adidas x Pokémon Superstar Vintage Charizard, where oversized overlays inspired by Charizard’s wings make it one of the collection’s most striking interpretations.

From Mewtwo to Rayquaza

Mewtwo leads another of the collection’s main stories, appearing across three different silhouettes. The adidas x Pokémon Samba OG Mewtwo introduces details inspired by the legendary Pokémon on one of adidas’ most recognisable shoes, while the adidas x Pokémon Spezial Mewtwo adds more specific elements, including triangular eyelets and references to the Master Ball. The adidas x Pokémon ZX 8000 Mewtwo completes the trio by bringing the same visual universe to one of the brand’s standout retro-running silhouettes.

Ghost-type Pokémon also find their place within the Adistar family. The adidas x Pokémon Adistar Control 5 Haunter brings Haunter’s aesthetic into the line, while the adidas x Pokémon Adistar XLG 2.0 Gengar uses tones associated with Gengar to turn the chunky silhouette into one of the collection’s most distinctive designs.

Rayquaza moves between different worlds too. The adidas x Pokémon Adistar Control 5 Rayquaza channels the legendary Pokémon’s visual identity, the adidas Originals x Pokemon ZX 500 RS ‘Rayquaza’ brought back a classic while the adidas x Pokémon F50 Tunit Mega Rayquaza carries the same universe into a football-inspired silhouette, linking two very different areas of collecting.

The Collection Goes Beyond Footwear

The collaboration is not limited to shoes. The adidas Originals x Pokémon “Pikachu” Relaxed Unisex Bomber brings back the look of retro sports jackets with a relaxed fit and V-neck collar.

The design blends adidas Originals references with Pokémon graphics, extending the collection beyond footwear and turning the capsule into something that can be worn from head to toe.

The result feels especially fitting for two names that have spent decades working around a similar idea: preserving what made them instantly recognisable while finding new ways to introduce those classics to each new generation.

An Experience Created for One Piece Fans

When a collaboration draws from a universe as instantly recognisable as One Piece, the product tells only part of the story.

Nike brings the world of one of the most influential manga franchises to a collection of footwear and apparel inspired by its characters, references and most recognisable elements. The collection stands on its own, while revealing additional details to those who know the universe from the inside.

In Europe, the collection has reached only six selected stores. FOOTDISTRICT is one of them. And we wanted to create something special for the occasion.

Our connection with such a specific community led us to approach the launch differently. To access the opportunity to purchase the Nike Air Max Plus “Ope Ope”, participants had to put their One Piece knowledge to the test. We created a quiz specifically for the occasion, giving those who understood everything behind the collection a chance to prove it.

FOOTDISTRICT Madrid as a Nike x One Piece Laboratory

The community response confirmed that this collaboration had a story worth telling beyond the product.

We transformed the entrance of FOOTDISTRICT Madrid into a laboratory inspired by Nike’s vision, creating a space where research, innovation and the stories of the characters come together.

The space invites visitors to discover the creative process behind the collaboration and turns the visit into an interactive experience. Each element acts as another clue within the narrative, connecting the design of the sneakers with the One Piece universe and the energy of the Ope Ope no Mi.

The objective was simple: we wanted those coming to collect their pair to find more than a box. For a few minutes, they could step into the universe behind the collaboration.

The response exceeded our expectations. From the very beginning, the space sparked the curiosity of those who visited the store. People stopped to discover every detail, share the experience and, of course, search for references they recognised from the One Piece universe. Seeing the community’s enthusiasm around the installation was probably one of the most rewarding parts of the entire launch.

We also wanted the experience to leave participants with something tangible. We created three posters inspired by the collection, available as prizes through our slot machine.

Thank you to everyone who took part, visited the store, put their One Piece knowledge to the test and shared the experience with us. And thank you to everyone who made it possible for FOOTDISTRICT Madrid to become, for a few days, a small gateway into this universe.

In the first two episodes of FOOTNOTES, we already found it difficult to define our guests, Frankie Pizá and Jaume Ripoll. In CAP3, we follow the journey of Julia de Castro, and it proves just as difficult.

Julia arrives at FOOTDISTRICT Madrid after putting the finishing touches to her first solo exhibition, La ausencia es la obra. The journey here is a familiar one: in Valverde, the neighbourhood where FOOTDISTRICT Madrid is located, the luthier who used to tune her violin had his workshop.

A life between disciplines

The violin and the exhibition might seem like two distant poles, but Julia de Castro’s life is full of unexpected connections. Her journey moves from classical theatre to performance, from music to cinema. During the conversation, we talk about her best-known role as an actress, but also about her other facets: historian, sound designer, cuplet singer and film director.

CAP3 of FOOTNOTES follows these leaps between disciplines, trying to uncover what lies behind Julia de Castro’s zigzags. Changing disciplines means starting again, learning new codes and accepting that there is always something left to discover.

From Ávila to the World

It all starts in Ávila, a city proud of its smallness that becomes the starting point for a question running through the episode: don’t we all come from somewhere different?

Julia carries something of that sense of smallness with her, adding fragments of every place she passes through. Always embracing the singularity of each one. That is why listening to her album La historiadora can take you to Mexico or Tucson. Watching On The Go might have you expecting a Southern accent from Julia. And from her time in Italy, she brought back an exhaustive study of a 17th-century text about prostitution.

Julia de Castro at FOOTNOTES

A conversation about changing direction, learning all over again and accepting that every new discipline also requires a certain degree of humility.

Because perhaps that is one of the constants running through her journey: not knowing exactly where the next stop will be, and having enough curiosity to get there.

Barcelona 92: The Birth of the Dream Team

For Michael Jordan, Barcelona holds a special meaning. The 1992 Olympic Games were the first to allow NBA players to participate and, although Michael had already competed in 1984 as an amateur, Barcelona marked the creation of the greatest team in basketball history: the Dream Team.

The importance of those Olympic Games was reflected even in a detail on his sneakers. For the first time, his footwear was adapted to a specific moment, replacing the usual 23 seen on his Air Jordan 7 with a 9, the number he wore while representing the United States national team.

Barcelona 92 would forever remain a special place for Jordan.

An Air Jordan 7 Inspired by Joan Miró

In 2008, Nike celebrated the Beijing Olympic Games by opening pop-up spaces in cities that had previously hosted Summer Olympics. For Barcelona, the brand prepared something special: a limited-edition Air Jordan 7 that connected the city directly with one of its most recognised artists, Joan Miró.

The painter and sculptor was not only born in Barcelona and developed much of his career there, but his work is also deeply present throughout the city through sculptures, parks, and public spaces.

The Air Jordan 7 “Miró” special edition adopted the artist’s vibrant colours, creating a palette that some also linked to the Olympic rings. Long before the era of major collaborations, this Jordan represented something completely different, far removed from what had been seen before.

The Beginning of a New Era for Jordan

Released exclusively in Barcelona, the Air Jordan 7 “Miró” became a turning point and helped open the door for future special editions. Its impact went beyond Michael Jordan himself, who had already retired permanently by then, and proved that Jordan Brand could have a new life by connecting with future generations.

Turned into a grail for collectors, its resale prices eventually became a symbol of an era and confirmed the cultural value that sneakers could achieve.

Barcelona as a Source of Inspiration

The return of the Air Jordan 7 “Miró” means looking back at Barcelona and its artists as a creative starting point. A city where sport, art, and culture came together to create one of the most unique stories in the Jordan universe.

One space, many rhythms

The ASICS GEL-KINETIC FR moves through a sequence of moments where motion and pause belong to the same experience. A few quick steps. A stop. Looking around. Checking a map. Taking a photograph. Moving again.

There is no clear division between the journey and the destination. The surroundings change with the people moving through them: concrete, steps, warm light and open horizons become one continuous landscape experienced from the ground up.

It is also a landscape to share. Two people can follow different rhythms and still arrive at the same place. Movement creates encounters, detours and moments that were never part of the plan.

From the archive to the next step

The GEL-KINETIC FR uses ASICS history as material for something new. Its design draws from the GEL-KINETIC and GEL-FRANTIC series of the 2000s, combining technical panelling, a streamlined profile and a distinctly sculpted sole.

Underfoot, an updated Scutoid GEL structure applies insights from research into walking motion and foot pressure. TRUSSTIC adds stability, FLYTEFOAM provides lightweight cushioning and AHAR rubber reinforces high-wear areas. The technology is there to support everyday movement, rather than decide what that movement should look like.

Its two debut colourways offer different readings of the same silhouette. Mixing earthy shades with softer highlights vs a more technical route, using contrast to reveal the lines and volumes of the shoe.

Move your body, move your mind

Movement changes the space around you. It can also change the way you see it. Sometimes a different pace is all it takes to find another perspective.

The ASICS GEL-KINETIC FR is made for that journey. The part you planned and everything that happens in between. Move, pause, change direction, start again. Now available at FOOTDISTRICT.

Free The Youth is a cultural platform born in Accra, Ghana, that has successfully translated the energy of its community into a global language. Founded by a group of young creatives, FTY moves between fashion, art, and visual storytelling, building bridges between Africa and the rest of the world through an authentic aesthetic deeply connected to its surroundings.

Its relationship with Jordan Brand comes from a natural shared vision: both go beyond the product itself, understanding sport and culture as drivers of change and self-expression. The Air Jordan 16 x Free The Youth collaboration represents this dialogue, reinterpreting the silhouette through the lens of contemporary African identity while projecting it towards the future.

To celebrate the launch, FOOTDISTRICT Barcelona hosts a space dedicated to Free The Youth and the Jordan 16, where the experience goes beyond the sneaker. A place to discover the FTY universe in the city, inviting visitors to explore not only a silhouette, but everything it represents.

An activation connecting Barcelona and Accra, reaffirming the power of stories when they are told from within.