Nike Dunk Low

NIKE DUNK LOW: A SILHOUETTE THROUGH THE AGES

THE FOUNDATION OF URBAN CULTURE

Four decades after the creation of the slam-dunk, Nike was just over a decade old, and the popularity of basketball was booming. The year 1985 will be remembered as one of the most pivotal years for Nike Basketball, as it marked the birth of the Nike Dunk.

Built on the momentum of a young design team, the Nike Dunk basketball shoe was driven by performance innovation that translated smoothly into street style. The leather design reinforced Nike's interest in basketball and its obsession with creating shoes that enhance athletes' performance.

Originally conceived by designer Peter Moore and called the College Color High, the Nike Dunk was a creative mix of different models, a common practice for Nike basketball trainers in the 1980s. The 1985 silhouette was inspired in part by its big sister, the Nike Air Force 1, which was born three years earlier.

THE NIKE DUNK LOW AND ITS UNPRECEDENTED COLLABORATIONS

As much as its role in the expansion of urban culture, the collaborations on this model have also contributed to the success of the Dunk Low. Indeed, the year 2019 was concluded by a Nike Off-White collaboration. The two brands offered 3 variations on the Dunk Low design in a destructured leather style combining comfort and fashion. These were the Michigan, University Red and Pine Green colourways.

The work on these pairs was the starting point for new and unprecedented collaborations, such as the collaboration between Nike and the American ice cream maker Ben & Jerry's. The pair was leaked several times on social networks and created a growing hype around the release. On May 26, 2020, the Nike SB Dunk Low Ben & Jerry's Chunky Dunky was unveiled to the public, featuring complex materials and detailing in Ben & Jerry's signature style. In addition, a Special Box edition was issued, featuring a unique Ben & Jerry's ice cream tub packaging for the pair.

After several projects with Nike, Comme Des Garçons also designed two variations of the Dunk Low in May 2020, in a sober and very trendy grey/black style. These numerous collaborations were a guarantee of success for the model, which stole the limelight with several colours and variations...

NIKE DUNK LOW WOMEN'S AND MEN'S: STILL ON TREND

The model has been a major player in the sneaker scene for decades. Today, Nike continues to unveil new colours and new collaborations. This desire to make 2022 a landmark season for the silhouette is clearly affirmed by the American giant, as demonstrated by the many iterations of the Nike Dunk High.

Earlier, in December 2019, through the collaboration with Off-White on 3 variations of Dunk Low, the world of sneakers rediscovered the model, creating a new craze. The brand with the Swoosh took note and decided to create 4 variations inspired by the Nike Dunk High: Be True To Your School pack, initially released in 1985 with the aim of returning to basics and the sporty/retro aspect of the silhouette. We then saw the Kentucky, Syracuse and a few months later the St John's, Brazil and Champ Colors.

 

Thanks to this stunning comeback, the model became an undisputed must-have. The new releases remain frequent, always varied and original, offering the public a wide range of this best-seller. This legendary model has been able to encompass two strong cultures, basketball and skateboarding, to revitalise the public's vision of these sneakers and become an icon in both fields.