(Lead image via Tech Hunter/Moncler)
After spending over a decade at Nike, Nathan VanHook is set to join adidas, per Complex. VanHook will be taking over as the new Vice President of Design for adidas Basketball.
VanHook has an extensive portfolio within sneakers as he recently served as Moncler’s Head of Footwear Design. He joined the Italian brand in June 2021, working alongside his colleague Gino Fisanotti; a former Nike exec who became Moncler’s first-ever Chief Brand Officer.
While at Moncler, VanHook designed the Trailgrip sneaker, an elevated trail shoe that debuted in August 2022 and is the star of Salehe Bembury’s upcoming Moncler collaboration.
Before joining Fisanotti at Moncler, VanHook was at Nike for 12 years. His Swoosh career came to end in December 2020 during a company restructuring that resulted in significant job cuts.
VanHook’s career with Nike began in November 2008, working as a footwear designer on the Nike Sportswear line. At Nike, VanHook helped to design the Nike Air Yeezy 2, Kanye West’s second and final Nike signature shoe.
From there, VanHook went on to become a Design Director of Footwear for Nike Training in 2013 and Nike Football (soccer) in 2014. Then in 2017, VanHook became the Senior Creative Director of Footwear for the Nike ACG line.
It’s no secret that adidas is in need of new talent as Three-Stripes falls behind its competition with the departure of Ye and Ivy Park struggling with sales. Additionally, adidas’ once promising partnership with Fear of God designer Jerry Lorenzo seems to on unclear terms after Lorenzo was absent from an adidas Basketball campaign in December 2022.
For more sneaker news and release dates, follow @NiceKicks on Twitter.
