Nike launches very first maternity collection

Nike has announced the launch of its very first maternity collection.

The new maternity collection, which has been in development since 2017, consists of four products: a nursing sports bra made from sweat-wicking material that includes a panel for a nursing pump, wide-band leggings, a split-hem jacket and a scoop style tank top.

Nike’s senior design director of apparel innovation, Carmen Zolman said the brand spent three years meticulously investigating challenges to sport and fitness faced by women during and after pregnancy.

The design team — made up of mothers and moms-to-be at the brand — applied data from over 150,000 body scans of women around the world to determine how the body grows during pregnancy. Nike spoke with groups of “every day women” as well as 30 elite athletes to gain insight into what the collection needed.

Nike senior design director for apparel innovation, Carmen Zolman said in a statement: “The more we listened to expecting mothers and postpartum mothers, the more we learned, reworked and innovated through inclusive design."

“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.”

Some niche brands have tapped into the maternity activewear segment however their reach has been limited. Now, major activewear giants are recognising the growing demand for this category, the value in this market and the significance it holds for consumers.