Nike Collaborator Tom Sachs Faces Backlash Over Toxic Workplace and Cult-like Environment
3 min read
Image via tomsachs/Instagram
According to Nike, Tom Sachs studio has an inappropriate workplace culture. An investigation released on Monday by Curbed claims that former employees of the artist complained about a “destabilizing and scary” working environment. A former employee claimed that Sachs made inappropriate comments about sex and employee appearance, threw objects across the room at employees, called a basement storage room the “rape room,” wore only underwear in the studio and called employees “autistic,” “retarded,” “bitch,” and other names while there. In a statement to FN, Nike, which has worked with Sachs for decades, expressed deep concern about the allegations.
To learn more about the situation and how these issues are being addressed, the company is in contact with Tom and his studio. According to a former administrative employee cited in the report, Sachs once appeared on a zoom call with female Nike employees in his underwear. Curbed reported that the company’s studio conducts virtual fittings on a weekly basis. A series of high-heat releases have been produced with Sachs since Nike partnered with him in 2012 for the launch of the NikeCraft Mars Yard 1.0 sneakers. A General Purpose Shoe at a more affordable price point was recently released by the two entities.
Nike Issues A Statement In Response To Tom Sachs Allegations
Top artist and Nike collaborator Tom Sachs was exposed for his toxic work culture, misconduct at work, and cult-like workplace environment. The publisher of Curbed published an investigative piece on the designer where anonymous former employees revealed the company’s concerning work culture. As a result of the artist’s ouster, Nike has released a statement. The NikeCraft Mars Yard 1.0 sneakers were the first piece of NikeCraft footwear to be designed in partnership with Tom Sachs in 2012. Since then, they have collaborated. Their most recent collaboration was a General Purpose Shoe. Despite the shocking culture at Tom Sachs’ studio, Nike said they were in contact with the boss in question to obtain a better understanding of the situation. According to Nike, we are deeply concerned about the allegations. As we try to better understand this situation and address these issues, we’ve been in contact with Tom and his studio. A person who simply thinks about bizarre working hours and no pay is in for a distressing experience. The rules Tom Sachs had for his employees were revealed to be strict. In addition to walking quietly in the studio, placing objects at 90 degrees angles, and adhering to strict diet and exercise plans, they were expected to adhere to strict rules.
Nike statement on Tom Sachs: pic.twitter.com/pYEgVTAhY1
— brendandunne (@brendandunne) March 15, 2023
Under the name Space Camp, Sachs organized employee group workouts where they wore matching workout attire to ensure that the latter was adhered to sternly. During the investigation, a former studio assistant revealed: People would take pictures of us while we were jogging in Soho. The people thought they were just another cult; they had no idea who Tom was. In addition, Tom Sachs was exposed for regularly using terms like autistic, retarded, and bitch. Because someone kept a sheet of steel in the wrong place, an employee threw it across the room. A former Nike administrative employee revealed that Sachs dialled into a Zoom meeting while wearing his underwear. A woman whom he called his type was also mentioned by him to his toddler. Sachs had likewise nicknamed a storage closet the r*pe room, which the last option started called a consent room. Furthermore, pornography was a repeated topic of discussion. One former employee revealed that female employees had to deal with sexism on a regular basis: He treated the women so different from the men. His protégés included men. Women weren’t viewed that way by him. Since everyone hated working for Sachs, they had become aware of the sound of his footsteps.
Nike has reportedly been working on a Tom Sachs Mars Yard 3.0. It’s unclear how his allegations could affect the shoe's release.
— Ovrnundr (@Ovrnundr) March 16, 2023
Credit: @brendandunne pic.twitter.com/W68RHdRX67
