Nothing says summer like soaking in the sun with some fresh fruit. Nike is hoping to make the sunny season even sweeter with the rolling launch of its new “Happy Pineapple” collection.

Consisting of an array of silhouettes, including the Air Max 90, Air Max 95, Air Force 1, Free Run Trail, and Air Zoom-Type, this special line merges iconic, innovative models with juicy hues, playful details, and plant-based materials all nodding to a true summertime staple: the pineapple. 

The colors used throughout evoke a refreshed feeling, from shades of “coconut milk” and “apricot agate,” to metallic gold, while embroidered graphics pay homage to the fruit inspiration — the “94430” on the Air Maxes is a common supermarket code for the pineapple. The theme however, as Nike puts it, is “more than skin-deep.” Each shoe in the collection features Ananas Anam’s Piñatex® material – an innovative natural textile developed from the by-product of pineapple harvests – as well as other sustainable materials like cork. 

Piñatex® is applied in two forms: as a shimmering foil used on a glow-in-the-dark canvas version of the AF1, AM90, and AM95; and as textured pineapple leather also used on the same AM90 and AM95 models, as well as the Zoom-Type, Free Run Trail, and a cork version of the AF1. 

Additionally, cork textures are used to anchor both the coconut milk and black colorways of the Zoom-Type, while the cork-infused insoles provide additional comfort for the AM90 and the Free Run Trail. 

The pack is very reminiscent of the sportswear brand’s recent “Plant Cork” pack, which remixed similar models with at least 20% recycled content by weight, cork-infused outsoles, and plant-based dyes. 

Unlike the Plant Cork pack however, the Happy Pineapple collection is made in part with a specific eco-material startup. Ananas Anam’s focus and development of a natural leather alternative out of pineapple leaf fiber has helped create a new industry for pineapple farming communities in the Philippines, and helped widen the sustainable textile options for fashion items, accessories, and upholstery across many brands, including Hugo Boss, H&M, and the Hilton Hotel Bankside. 

“Design is a connecting tool between people, economics and the environment — and out of this communion, understanding and respect, new ideas and products with integrity can come about,” Ananas Anam founder and Chief Creative & Innovation Officer Dr. Carmen Hijosa says on the company’s site. 

The full Nike Happy Pineapple collection is currently available in different regions around the globe. The Air Force 1, Air Max 90, Air Max 95, and Air Zoom-Type are available via SNKRS in Asia, such as Indonesia, Japan and Malaysia, while the Free Run Trail is currently only available via SNKRS in Europe, including the U.K., Germany, France, and Spain. Be on the lookout for a wider release or drops at select boutique partners. 

In other footwear news, we recently partnered with FarFetch to showcase the e-tailer’s best vegan-friendly kicks.