When it comes to inclusivity, Nike rarely falls short. The sportswear giant was the first major retailer to drop a hijab for Muslim athletes back in 2017. With their newest drop, Nike will be catering to yet another typically neglected demographic: pregnant athletes.
The collection—which is called Nike (M)—is comprised of four pieces: a bra, a pullover, a tank, and leggings. The bra is also adjustable for breastfeeding. And the leggings include a foldable waist band that can be folded down or pulled up, with materials that accommodate a growing belly.
To make it happen, Nike designers used data from more than 150,00 body comparison scans of pregnant and non-pregnant women. They also gathered feedback from nearly 30 female athletes who were pregnant or postpartum, testing 70 different fabrics along the way.
“The more we listened to expecting mothers and postpartum mothers, the more we learned, reworked and innovated through inclusive” said Carmen Zolman, Nike Senior Design
Director for Apparel Innovation in a statement. “It’s the project of a lifetime to work in lockstep with all kinds of mothers to bring to life a capsule that truly supports women’s relationship with sport during such a transformative time in their lives.”
The collection is currently available for purchase online, and will be available in-store starting early 2021.
