SoleGRIND
Anime and sneaker collaborations have been escalating for years, but the One Piece x Nike Air Max Plus “Gomu Gomu” feels like a genuine high-water mark. This isn’t a shoe that slaps a logo on an existing colorway and calls it a day. It’s a deeply considered design that translates the mythology of One Piece’s most iconic Devil Fruit into a wearable piece of sneaker art.
The Gomu Gomu no Mi — the Devil Fruit that gave Monkey D. Luffy his rubber powers — is the central inspiration. Style code IR0968-500 arrives in a Space Purple/Purple Venom-Altitude Green-Atomic Green colorway that mirrors the fruit’s swirling, otherworldly appearance. The purple upper features raised swirl patterns that directly mimic the Devil Fruit’s surface texture. It’s tactile, not just visual — running your hand across the upper is part of the experience.
Bright green accents hit the laces, tongue, lining, and TPU cage, creating a stark contrast against the purple base. The green feels like Atomic Green specifically — that radioactive, almost-glowing shade that Nike reserves for its most aggressive color hits. The TPU cage, usually a structural afterthought on the Air Max Plus, becomes a featured design element here.
One Piece branding shows up on the tongue, insoles, and heel — subtle enough not to overwhelm the design but present enough to make the collaboration undeniable. The special box is where the packaging elevates this from shoe to collectible: Nike and One Piece logos share space with the Straw Hat Jolly Roger and Gomu Gomu fruit graphics. Themed tissue paper and a Jolly Roger card round out the unboxing experience.
The release strategy is worth paying attention to. SNKRS US is doing a pre-order opening September 25, 2026, but access isn’t guaranteed — Nike is running a SNKRS poll before September 18 to determine who gets pre-order access. At $210, this is premium pricing, but the level of design detail and themed packaging justifies the tag for serious collectors.
Regional release dates will vary, so check your local SNKRS channel for specifics. If you’re a One Piece fan who also collects sneakers, this is the kind of release that defines a collection. The Air Max Plus has always had a cult following, and wrapping it in Gomu Gomu mythology creates something that neither fandom will want to miss.
