JD and Nike Rift turn a split-toe silhouette into a summer statement

If there was ever a shoe designed to divide opinion, it’s the Nike Rift. Part trainer, part sandal, and instantly recognisable thanks to its signature split-toe silhouette, the Nike staple has become one of this summer’s most unexpected fashion success stories. While comparisons to original Japanese designs are inevitable, the Rift offers something distinctly different: the same sense of individuality, with an added emphasis on movement, practicality and everyday wear. For the city girls who spend their days darting between coffee meetings, office hours, gallery openings, dinners, parties and everything in between, it’s a shoe designed to keep up with it all.

To celebrate the growing momentum around the silhouette, JD and Nike hosted ‘It’s A Rift Summer’, a rooftop experience high above the London skyline. Held on the 61st floor of Gordon Ramsay’s Lucky Cat at 22 Bishopsgate, the evening transformed the Nike Rift from sportswear staple into fashion statement, set against one of the city’s most impressive sunset backdrops.

The venue could hardly have been more fitting. As guests stepped out onto the rooftop, London stretched out in every direction under a golden summer sky. The venue’s open-air design meant the occasional dramatic gust of wind sent hair flying across faces and had everyone keeping a close eye on hemlines, but the trade-off was more than worth it. With uninterrupted views across the capital, it felt like the city itself had become part of the event.

The evening was designed around the idea of transition: from day to night, from practicality to self-expression, and from functional footwear to summer obsession. Guests were welcomed with playful split soft drinks – lemon on one side, rhubarb on the other – a clever nod to the Rift’s defining split-toe design. As the sun began to set, the atmosphere evolved alongside it, with cocktails flowing, food stations aplenty and a DJ soundtrack of soulful, funky summer favourites carrying the event into the evening.

Among the highlights was a customisation station from Matt B Customs, where guests transformed their Rifts with ribbons or pearls (or both) bows plus playful charms. The additions felt particularly timely given fashion’s ongoing obsession with personalisation and bag charms, proving once again that the most successful trends are often the ones that invite individuality. Alongside, independent jewellery brand Etienne Collection hosted anklet-making workshops, offering another opportunity for guests to put their own spin on the silhouette.

The styling on display throughout the evening emphasised exactly why the Rift has already become a fashion favourite. Some of the night’s best-dressed guests included Ellie Robinson, pairing her powder-pink Rifts with a matching Nike sports tank, layered with a grey strappy top and shredded sweatpants. Meanwhile, Abigail Comrie arrived in a head-to-toe Nike navy two-piece set, while Astrid Lonsdale opted for a slick denim co-ord. Whether paired with floaty dresses, oversized tailoring, vintage sportswear or minimalist separates, the shoe repeatedly demonstrated its versatility. 

Of course, no conversation about the evening would be complete without mentioning the food. Event catering isn’t usually that memorable, but the spread here quickly became another talking point among attendees. From wagyu beef parcels and tempura prawns to sushi, chicken curry and truffle macaroni cheese, the menu offered a well-earned reward for those who had successfully navigated their way up to the rooftop.

As the sun disappeared behind the skyline, the campaign’s central message became increasingly clear. JD and Nike aren’t simply presenting the Rift as another summer trainer. Instead, they’re championing a shoe that reflects how many people move through modern city life: from work to after-work drinks, errands to evenings out, without stopping to change outfits in between.

Not quite a trainer and not quite a sandal, the Nike Rift belongs in a category all of its own. And, judging by the crowd that gathered 61 floors above London last night, that in-between space is exactly where this summer’s most interesting style conversations are happening.

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