Jannik Sinner’s One-of-One Nike ACG Moment in Milan

When Jannik Sinner rerouted from the Dolomites to Milan fresh off the Australian Open, it wasn’t for a victory lap. It was for a one-of-one design exercise with Nike — a custom, winter-ready look built to mark the relaunch of Nike ACG.

Working alongside Nike’s Chief Design Officer Martin Lotti and Senior Design Director Raffaella Barbey, Sinner co-created a layered, sculptural ensemble: bespoke outerwear, tailored trousers, footwear and a custom A.I.R. vest engineered for cold-weather conditions. The silhouette leaned boxy and cocooned, cut with deep pleats and built for Alpine temperatures rather than baseline rallies.

At the centre sat adaptive A.I.R. technology — the same innovation used in Nike’s Therma-FIT Air medal-stand jackets — recontextualised in a refined, fashion-forward vest. It’s technical insulation, elevated. Performance, without the noise.

What sets the project apart is the level of athlete input. Barbey conducted fittings with Sinner in Melbourne during the Open, refining proportions and details across multiple iterations. Early orange piping was dialled down after his feedback, replaced with a more muted palette aligned with his understated aesthetic. The result feels deliberate rather than decorative.

The personal references are subtle but sharp. A pure silver carabiner keychain — shaped from an elevation map of the Alps — hangs from the tailored trousers. It’s a nod to Sexten, his hometown, and the years he spent skiing before tennis took over. Functional hardware turned design signature.

For Nike, this wasn’t about dressing an athlete for cameras. It was a statement on how the brand approaches partnership: listening first, then pushing boundaries on materials, construction and speed. Designing one piece instead of ten thousand allows for risk — and refinement.

For Sinner, it marked a shift from ambassador to collaborator. For menswear, it’s a reminder that technical apparel can carry narrative — and that winter performance gear, when handled properly, belongs as comfortably in Milan as it does in the mountains.