Another term central to Futura’s process was athletic. Elite breakers show off an athleticism on par with the world’s best gymnasts. In reflecting an airy motion among his mascots, Futura pays respect to the incredible physical abilities of the breakers competing in Paris. 

“Artists in hip-hop have huge respect for what breakers are able to pull off,” says Futura. “Breakers are the ones pushing the limits of their bodies. Graffiti artists, DJs, MCs — we’re all afforded a longevity in our careers that breakers don’t have.” A breaker could blow out an ACL, Futura notes, and their career is over — but that doesn’t stop breakers from doing what they love. It’s also why, he adds, this Nike apparel collection had to serve the needs of breakers. “On the garments, my characters had to symbolize a physicality, the way they’re putting their bodies on the line,” he says.

Nike designers also asked Futura for his detailed feedback on the Nike Jam, a shoe developed with the feedback of hundreds of breakers who visited the LeBron James Innovation Building to embark on cutting-edge testing. The Nike Sport Research Lab supplied the rationale for many of the shoe’s technical details, such as which areas of the outsole to reinforce based on how much force breakers put on certain areas of their foot. Futura’s contribution was largely in recommending the shoe’s material choices — leathers on the panel overlays for a premium feel, suede over the eyestays for durability, chenille hits on the tongue for an unexpected touch of comfort. Breakers couldn’t feel like they were performing in an Alphafly, after all. A specific look and feeling had to come together in a delicate balance.