Nike’s latest drop, the $100 “Dri-Fit ADV Short-Sleeve Running Top,” has sparked a heated debate in the running community—not for its performance features or decidedly dull name, but for its strikingly similar resemblance to French boutique brand Satisfy Running’s signature design, its “MothTech” running shirt.
Yes, both look like old cotton Tees that have been worked over by moths. Edgy.
Known for its distressed aesthetic, Satisfy has built a reputation for blending running gear with a punk-inspired designs (and ridiculous pricing). So when Nike unveiled a shirt that looked like it could have come straight from Satisfy’s lineup, fans of the independent brand were quick to call it out.
First, let’s take a look at Satisfy’s design:
And now Nike’s latest offering:
One of the Paris-based Brand’s standout pieces since it launched in 2015, the “MothTech T-Shirt,” epitomizes this ethos: a running shirt with purposeful distressing designed for both function and style. Satisfy claims that its holes are actually strategically places in order to create maximum breathability, whilst looking, you know, badass.
So when Nike unveiled its new look, fans of Satisfy couldn’t help but point out the similarities.
Rather than staying quiet, the brand’s leadership decided to address the running-shirt-hungry moth in the room. Satisfy took to social media to acknowledge the comparisons, subtly calling out the uncanny resemblance while reinforcing what sets them apart. Satisfy made it clear: there’s more to their designs than just a few random holes.
“By ripping us off, Nike is making a lazy move that feels like an acknowledgment of the shift we’ve sparked in the running world,” Tommy Hubert, Head of PR at Satisfy said. “While we’re disappointed by what feels like a shortcut from a major brand like Nike, it’s also a reminder of the impact we’re making. Independent brands like Satisfy are reshaping what running gear, and the culture surrounding it, can be, and this response only underscores the movement we’re leading.”
But is their design really THAT original? The people of the internet have spoken… and the response wasn’t exactly in favour of Satisfy or Nike.
The post above sparked quite a discussion in the comments, with some of the highlights being:
Runnig photographer Eddie O’Conner saying, “I like satisfy running but cmon yall think you’re the first to sell a shirt with holes in it💀😭 whoever made that statement needs to get ahold of themselves lmfao”
Another user chimed in saying neither brand was the first to hop on this “trend”: “Somebody tell them they wasn’t the first to make hobo shirts 😭”
And finally, one who just wasn’t a fan of either: “Looks like they got sprayed with a bb gun”
To be fair, this isn’t the first time an independent brand has seen its aesthetic mirrored by a larger corporation. And it probably won’t be the last.
And it could be argued that Nike pioneered the look way back in 2016 when Galen Rupp cut holes in his Miler singlet to offset the sweltering conditions in the Rio Olympic marathon:
