Today marks a very happy day for expectant mothers: Nike has just launched its first-ever maternity sportswear range and it’s as good as you’d imagine.
Speaking to 30 female athletes who were both pregnant and not pregnant, and scanning over 150,000 scans of both expecting and not expecting mothers, Nike has created a four-piece collection, Nike M, designed for women throughout all stages of pregnancy. Featuring the Pullover, swoosh bra, tank and Nike One tights, Nike have worked on the fit, feel and function of the range for three years.
True to the brand, they have not skimped on style, quality or sustainability. Nike trialled 70 different materials before deciding on the final nine. Between 78 and 88 per cent of these are made from recycled polyester, further pushing Nike’s sustainability agenda. The malleable materials even allow women to wear the pieces over or under their bump with functions that allow for easy breastfeeding and pumping without lasting milk stains.
“The more we listened to expecting mothers and postpartum mothers, the more we learned, reworked and innovated through inclusive design,” revealed Carmen Zolman, Nike Senior Design Director for Apparel Innovation. “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 launch of Nike M comes shortly before Adidas’s first maternity range is expected to drop. With activewear being such a vital part of many pregnant women’s wardrobe, it’s no surprise to see these two global sportswear brands getting in on the action.
Whether you’re gearing up for a workout, or having a well deserved day on bingeing Netflix on the sofa, pregnancy comfort just stepped up a notch – and rightly so.