Back On Track With Nike

Probably the most exciting Swedish designer collaboration within sportswear, Swedish designer Ann-sofie Back has joined forces with Nike and created limited edition BACK x NIKE pieces that will be given to all those who sign up for the NTC Tour Stockholm or Nike Women’s 10k this June. Ann-sofie Back is often inspired by sportswear when creating her collections but, surprisingly enough, Back herself is also one hell of a runner. We exchanged a few words with her. sc: How often do you go out for a run? ab: Once or twice a week. sc: Do you prefer to run by yourself or in a group? ab: In a group. sc: What do you listen to when you’re out running? ab: We often talk; if I don’t run with my group I have my Boston terrier Beverly with me, and she runs freely. I have to keep an eye on her so that she doesn’t quit – she could run a mile, easily! sc: What’s your running time for a 10k? ab: No, no, no! sc: You best memory connected with sports? ab: There must be a misunderstanding. I’ve never done sports, until now. I was damn good at Twister though, anyone remember Twister ? sc: What are your personal and professional goals? ab: [To be the] biggest, best and fastest – at both. sc: How do you feel about the connection between fashion and sports? ab: Sportswear is probably the biggest and most lasting fashion influence since, I don’t know, the 50s? sc: About the collaboration with Nike – is there a specific goal with this, or is it just a fun thing to do? ab: Well, I love Nike. Everything else is a secret. sc: Tell us about the collection. ab: It was important that the medal felt like a piece of jewelry, something that you would want to wear after the run. I have always been attracted to those broken-heart necklaces since I was a child so I thought that is was a good starting point. It was also important to me that the print on the tank top and the bag really felt like BACK so I recreated a popular BACK print “BACK FOR GOOD” to “BACK TO STHLM”. I wanted people to recognize it. Also, it was very fun to use our iconic BACK tote as a model for the bag but with a new seasonal print. Just being able to write BACK x NIKE is huge! sc: When are you starting with menswear? ab: It’s more likely that I would do clothes for dogs. sc: We are hoping to see BACK x NIKE sneakers soon! ab: Hey, me too!