Second to Sports, Nike’s Biggest Design Inspiration of 2025 Might Be the Military

Nike’s comeback year is dominated by performance talk, but its products are also telling a second story rooted in military colors and materials.

A model shown wearing a camo Nike jump suit

Add Gear Patrol as a Preferred Source on Google

By Ben Bowers

Published July 31, 2025

·

Updated July 31, 2025

If you buy from a link, we may earn a commission. Learn more

For decades, Nike has been synonymous with sport. Its legacy was built on the track, fueled by global basketball icons, and extended through innovation in running, training, and beyond. In 2025, that athletic identity is being reasserted in a big way.

The company is in the midst of a well-publicized turnaround strategy that places renewed emphasis on sport and performance — a message echoed by leadership, marketing, and a surge of new product offerings.

white nike shoe — The newly introduced Vomero 18 is a prime example of how Nike’s refocusing efforts on sports and running are starting to pay off. The new shoe is already reportedly a massive success for the business and is responsible for an estimated $100 million in sales.

Flagship running models like the Pegasus Premium and the Alphafly 4 are leading the charge, as well as the surprise hit Vomero 18 — a once-sleepy silhouette now repositioned as a must-have, cushy daily trainer that’s driving both tech-minded runners and style-conscious consumers back into Nike’s orbit.

Analysts and retailers alike have pointed to this pivot as the foundation of Nike’s recent rebound in sales and sentiment.

A male model wearing a full Nike warm up suit in digital camo — Nike just introduced two new camo color ways to its Dri-FIT Woven Windrunner Jacket, pants and shorts. They are arguably some of the most prominent products inspired by military aesthetics launched by the brand this year.

But while sport is the centerpiece of Nike’s comeback story, it’s not the only story playing out in 2025. Beneath the surface of performance-forward launches, another design direction is quietly taking shape — one that draws less from the track and more from the field.

Across both footwear and apparel, Nike has clearly embraced military aesthetics, with camouflage prints, tactical-inspired silhouettes, and fatigue greens showing up in increasing volume across its seasonal releases.

A top-down view of the Nike Air Pegasus Wave in light army — The Nike Air Pegasus Wave is available in a wide range of colors, but the shoe’s technical details, combined with a “Light Army” shade of green, give the sneaker a distinctly tactical look.

It may not be the focus of press releases or earnings calls, but the influence of military style is unmistakably part of Nike’s current creative DNA.

Creative with Camo

Nike has a long tradition of decking out its Air Max family of sneakers in camouflage patterns. Still, to kick off this year, the brand made one of its biggest pushes by releasing six different versions of the classic Air Max 90 in bold camo patterns as part of a camo pack.

This year’s noticeable push into military aesthetics started with one of Nike’s most legacy-driven silhouettes: the Air Max 90.

Nike dropped a full camo pack that reinterpreted classic camouflage in both military and hunting patterns, as well as louder and more colorful streetwear-ready tones.

The reception was strong, with collectors and casual consumers responding to the blend of nostalgia and bold design.

A male model shown leaning to the left of the image frame wearing a digital camo patterned Nike jacket in bright green — Despite leaning more heavily into traditional military tones this year, Nike has also dropped releases that treat camo more as a baseline design pattern to combine with striking colors to create eye-catching looks.

From there, the company’s camo push has quietly expanded. Nike’s latest iterations of its Tech Dri-FIT Woven line include camo shorts, pants, and jackets, each leaning into at least one interpretation of the print — from tonal earth tones to high-contrast patterns more at home in urban landscapes than any forest.

A close up of the Nike Book sneaker in desert camo — Nike’s latest color launch for Devin Booker’s signature basketball shoe, the Book1, is called “Desert Camo.”

Footwear has followed suit. The Book 1 “Desert Camo” — the latest color release for Devin Booker’s signature shoe — reinforces the militarized aesthetic on-court.

Even Nike’s increasingly popular Calm slides (and companion Calm clogs), known for their minimalist comfort-first design, have been reimagined in camo forms, signaling a consistent creative direction across product categories.

Though it’s more traditionally considered a hunting camouflage, new RealTree versions of Nike’s Calm clog sandals and Calm Slides are other recent examples of the sportswear giant recognizing and pivoting to the surging fashion trend.

Nike

Fatigues to Match

Beyond prints, Nike has also steadily increased the prevalence of military-adjacent hues in its core palette lately.

Colors more generally described as olive green and khaki are now available across a wide swath of apparel and footwear — in some cases accompanied by overt military references that make the aesthetic connection impossible to ignore.

Nike C1TY "Surplus" Sneaker — Nike initially launched its C1ty lifestyle sneaker last year. A newer dark green color, dubbed “Surplus,” clearly nods to the aesthetic of Army Surplus gear.

For example, in footwear, a more recent colorway of Nike’s C1Ty lifestyle sneaker, dubbed “Surplus” openly gestures toward the idea of military surplus gear — not just in name, but in rugged material choices and utilitarian design cues.

Similarly, the Field General Suede — which, despite what the name might suggest, is rooted in Nike Football heritage (re: soccer for American readers) — has also adopted a color scheme straight out of a military-issue handbook that Nike calls “Light Army,” which is also used across a wide range of Nike products today.

A female model shown wearing the Nike Naomi Osaka Oversized Short-Sleeve Top in Olive — The women’s exclusive Naomi Osaka oversized short-sleeve top is ostensibly designed for Tennis. Still, the placement of logos and design detailing above the left breast pockets closely resembles the look of awards and service distinctions common on military dress uniforms.

Apparel tells the same story, even across the brand’s most cutting-edge, luxurious, fashion-forward product lines.

The Nike Sportswear Premium Essentials Long-Sleeve Pocket Tee comes in an unmistakable olive tone. And Nike’s newly released 24/7 lifestyle capsule, aimed at the commuter-athlete hybrid, includes “Light Army” and “Steel Green” colors options throughout. Layering pieces from the fleece and UV protection collections reinforces the visual cohesion.

A Nike ribbed web belt in olive green showing the buckles and end — Even more obscure accessories from the brand, like this olive-green ribbed web belt, have recently embraced strong military vibes.

These aren’t just throwback olive drabs from the mid-2010s streetwear boom — but surprisingly refined, premium-feeling reinterpretations meant to live across both athletic and casual wardrobes.

Reading and Reacting

A male model wearing a army green sweatshirt

Nike isn’t making these choices in a vacuum.

The return of camouflage and military-inspired fashion has been bubbling up for over a year. From Highsnobiety to Cosmopolitan, fashion publications have noted the resurgence of camo in both runway and streetwear contexts, harkening it back to camo’s previous cultural peak over a decade earlier.

A female model shown looking to the right from the neck up wearing a Nike Apex Dri-FIT Bucket hat in medium olive.

But at a time when economic uncertainty, cultural polarization, and heightened geopolitical instability feel more prominent than ever, the renewed popularity of military style in general may be more than just a cyclical style trend this time around, at least if you’re game to entertain more galaxy-brained explanations.

A male model wears a camo patterned Dri-Fit Windrunner shorts

Whether consciously or not, fashion retailers’ hard pivot towards military aesthetics may also reflect a kind of cultural osmosis.

For better or worse, camos, fatigue green, and military materials may now signify more than just ruggedness; they may echo the anxieties and realities of the world we’re dressing for.

For better or worse, camos, fatigue green, and military materials may now signify more than just ruggedness; they may echo the anxieties and realities of the world we’re dressing for.

A close-up of the hell of the Nike SB Malor in Medium Olive Cargo

Nike may be doubling down on its performance roots, but it’s also still demonstrating a sharp instinct for reading the style room — and responding in kind. It’s also adopting a broader visual and material language of capable clothing beyond the realm of sports.

Whether it’s a tactical-looking sneaker or a pair of moisture-wicking shorts in camouflage, Nike’s take seems clear: performance and style aren’t competing ideas — they’re increasingly camouflage for one another.

Nike’s Military-Inspired Apparel

NIke Rise Trucker hat in green on a male model

Nike’s Military-Inspired Footwear

Nike Field General in Light / Army Natural Suede

Nike Field General Suede (Light Army)

$105 at Nike

Nike C1TY “Surplus”

$105 at Nike

Nike C1TY Premium CORDURA®New Product

$115 at Nike

Nike Book 1 “Desert Camo”

$145 at Nike

Nike Air Max 90 Premium Camo “Light Lemon”

$98 at Nike

$150 (35% off)

Nike Calm RealTree

$70 at Nike

Nike Calm Slides

Crafted from a single-piece, water-friendly foam shell, these slides deliver seamless ease and a smooth feel underfoot. A textured footbed locks your foot in place, while the rubber outsole ensures a reliable grip even on slick surfaces. The RealTree-inspired finish brings subtle outdoor style, whether you’re lounging at home or heading out to the pool. Effortless, supportive, and clean-ready. USE CODE BFRIDAY TO TAKE 25% OFF

$42 at Nike

$55 (24% off)

Nike Air Max 90 Premium Camo “University Gold”

$125 at Nike

$150 (17% off)

Nike SB Malor

$42 at Nike

$75 (44% off)

Nike Air Pegasus Wave (Light Army)

$170 at Nike

Nike SB Zoom Janoski OG+ Canvas (Neutral Olive/Sequoia)

$85 at Nike

Ethics Disclosure: A member of the author’s family is an employee of Jordan Brand, a wholly owned subsidiary of Nike, Inc.

About the Author: Ben Bowers is the Co-Founder and Chief Content Officer of Gear Patrol. Throughout his tenure in media, Ben has written and reported on everything from consumer tech to whiskey, watches, cars, camping, and personal style. These days, he gets to write less than he’d like to.