I recently tried to calculate how much driving I’d actually done over the last 18 years… And between the different cars I’ve had (company and private) it came out to just over a million kilometres.

From simple commutes to and from the office, to day-long road trips across the US and Europe- my Spotify library has most definitely been put to use. And not only that, conversations -some light, some deep- and laughs. So many laughs.

At a very young age I would jump in the car with my older brother and just set off. Just drive. No real destination sometimes, just the road, and the purring engine. I think it was thanks to this that I grew to love and enjoy the road so much. The sense of freedom that was associated to having a car, and the ability to just go…

Of those million kilometres I hit, probably half have been done alone, or with Neo (my Thunder Buddy-doggo I had for 12 and a half incredible years). That’s a lot of time alone, just with thoughts and good music. But I have enjoyed every second of it, but this isn’t about those times. No, this post was intended to talk about a recent roadtrip I had with three great friends across Germany from NL.

A trip that would bring us all a bit closer, and through which we would dive even deeper into the wonderful world of Nike, its origins, and how it has evolved over the years, seeking innovation, improving human performance, and all of that at no loss to aesthetics.

Yes, we’re talking about the Vitra Museum.

Vitra in itself is a crazy institution that stands for design, quiet luxury and quality. To see the link between Nike and Vitra alone is a beautiful statement. So, the exhibit itself was impressive. As we walked in, we already felt it was going to be something special.

The space is divided into four chronological rooms. The first, “Track” went deep into the archives earliest days. It showed -amongst many other things- the 1972 sketch of Carolyn Davidson, the first graphic tees (printed on Champion shirts), original track pieces, and some of the first steps taken on track to improve athlete performance. Seeing some of these pieces in real life was already special.

The second room “Air” celebrated the 1980’s era in which air is introduced. This part started with the origins and crazy idea of introducing an air capsule into sneakers, but continued by diving into some of the strategic sponsorships that contributed to consolidating air in the consumers’ minds. Of course, a big space is taken up by Jordan, and the introduction of the Jordan 1. A full wall dedicated to the legacy to Jordan, but it doesn’t stop there: Kobe’s are also shown, together with many air-soled revolutionary sneakers. One of my favourites: the signed Andre Agassi Air Tech Challenge.

The third space, “Sensation” went deeper into what drives the design culture at Nike. It highlighted the Nike Sports Research Lab, in which for the last 45 years, Nike has pushed the edges of sport, design and innovation to improve performance. Although the full exhibit could be under the concept “movement” I found this room to be the epitome of it. It displayed some incredible product that focused on not only performance, but also how Nike, as a company, has focused on how products respond to movement and different body types.

The central installation in the room were a series of mannequins in different positions almost mimicking the “march of progress” chart. Only instead of showcasing human evolution until the Homo Sapiens, it showed how Nike products are capable of adapting to the athlete’s every move and need. From Breakdancing to Tennis, it’s all there. The room dedicated part of the space to incredible achievements like Eliud Kipchoge’s breaking 2, sustainability and even breakthrough technology like Flyknit. A great snapshot of how Nike goes above and beyond. Every. Single. Time.

The final room, “Relation” conceptually, was the perfect way to round up what Nike is. We are human beings, and as such, we are bound to being social creatures in which we understand that being interlaced and collaborative is the only way forward.

The room was dedicated to exactly that. Exploring collaborations with external designers, artists, stores and collectives. From Comme des Garçons and Virgil Abloh to Bobbito Garcia, Bodega and many more, this room required some time as well.

Now, don’t get me wrong when I say I’m privileged to own quite a few of the sneakers on display, but then there were a few unicorns including the Belleville Air Force 1. Being able to see some of these sneakers in person was something else. I spend quite some time diving into books and on the internet, but nothing beats seeing all of this in person - even if in a vitrine. All in all, it is a collection of rarities that are the perfect way to round up a beautiful exhibition.

This trip was a definite highlight. Not only because of the exhibition itself, but because I was privileged to go with three friends that work at Nike for a weekend full of Nike talk, photography, and stories.

Because that’s what it’s all about. Human connection.

On the road - Vitra Museum visit.

The 200 km/h find.

The end of an era.