| Nike Dunk was originally introduced as a basketball sneaker; however, it quickly become popular in skateboarding culture and tastemaker closets alike. Its signature oversized tongue provided performance fit and comfort while simultaneously becoming an instant classic.
After rapper Travis Scott and Hugh Jackman\'s Wolverine both donned custom Nike Dunks, their fans began searching online for similar versions.
Be True to Your School
Nike responded quickly as skateboarding broke into the mainstream consciousness by creating several sneaker collaborations centered on its iconic Dunk. The heavy-duty construction and durability made it perfect for street skating; in 2004, they also established an SB (skateboarding) division and designed an updated Dunk with skate-specific details to further cement its relevance within this sport.
The SB Dunk was initially popularly sold with college team themes like Michigan, UNLV and Kentucky on it as an integral marketing tactic; fans could choose colorways like Michigan Blue and College Navy to coordinate with team uniforms. Today this theme remains part of its legacy collection of sneakers.
Natas Kaupas collaborated with Nike on a limited run of Dunk High sneakers honoring California\'s most legendary rock band, The Grateful Dead. Their distinctive musical sound combined doo-wop and rock and roll elements into an eye-catching design; as a result, these sneaker limited editions quickly became collector\'s items.
Bubble Gum Pack
The Nike Dunk is no longer just a basketball shoe; thanks to Nike\'s continued dedication, its latest versions have become one of skateboarding\'s must-have silhouettes. Thanks to creative storytelling and color themes that honor some of the greatest athletes worldwide, its revitalized popularity remains undimmed.
From \'Skunk\' to \'Be True to Your School, there have been some truly legendary Nike Dunk collaborations over the years - we gathered together our favorite pairs from recent years for your viewing pleasure. Discover a diverse and fashionable collection of Nike Dunk.
Natas Kaupas was one of the pioneers to utilize pop culture references as inspiration when designing this Nike Dunk High in collaboration with Wu-Tang Clan. Not only was the pair an obvious nod to their music and culture, but its frayed denim gave it a rugged aesthetic that couldn\'t be ignored.
Significance: This pair from LA\'s premier sneaker and streetwear boutique was meant to be disassembled to achieve a custom look, and many were successful in doing just that resulting in one-of-a-kind pairs featuring elements from both Nike Dunks with custom designs from the shop combined into one pair.
Stussy Pack
Stussy and Nike have collaborated on many sneaker collaborations over the years, from highly anticipated releases such as the Dunk Low \'Cherry\' to lesser-known silhouettes like 2021\'s Nike Air Spiridon Cage 2 silhouette. Together these brands have long been considered powerhouses in streetwear culture.
Back in 2005, Robbie Jeffers from Stussy and Aime Bonin joined forces to design the Stussy Pack: two colorways of the Dunk Pro SB designed by him with inspiration drawn from Neapolitan ice cream flavors including Chocolate Vanilla Strawberry color blocking on each shoe. Since their debut, this sneaker remains highly desired among sneakerheads and celebrities alike.
In 2021, Stussy joined forces with Nike again to release a Stussy Pack: this time on the Air Max 95 sneaker originally designed by Tinker Hatfield and first released in 1991. Reimagining its design with only an "SS" Stussy logo printed on its neoprene tongue tongue for simplicity\'s sake these kicks were available only at certain Nike stores and Stussy Chapter locations.
Stussy went back into its archives and resurrected the Nike Air Spiridon Cage 2, an iconic silhouette popular in Japan but not widely appreciated in America, that had fallen into disfavor until being revived for this collaboration with professional skateboarder Lance Mountain and this brand. Both High and Mid versions were offered, along with a DIY stencil so users could add their own cheetah print designs.
Collaborations
Nike SB realized the Dunk was becoming a cultural symbol, and wanted to ensure its inclusion within pop culture. So Sandy Bodecker initiated collaborations between professional skaters and the model to define it further and add new meaning.
The inaugural batch consisted of a trio of high-tops inspired by their basketball roots. A "College Orange" pair paid tribute to its origins in 1985-1986 while "Varsity Red" pieces paid homage to Syracuse University and Saint Johns University during its original release period.
Other collaborations took a more sculptural approach. MF DOOM designed a pair of Dunk Highs featuring woodgrain patterns while artist Michael Lau used textured leather that mimicked mallard feathers - creating sneakers more like pieces of art than sneakers! The results produced something more like pieces of sculpture than sneakers.
CLOT has increasingly turned its eye towards using the Dunk as an opportunity for mismatched colorways that combine performance with lifestyle aspects. Edison Chen teased via Instagram that an upcoming "What The" Clot x Nike Dunk Low would feature elements from past collaborations like tile panels found on its Dunk High and Air Jordan 13 collabs and various CLOT font branding on its left shoe\'s swoosh. |
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