NIKE DUNK HIGH: ITS HISTORY
At the start of the 1980s, the basketball shoe market was largely dominated by Adidas, thanks to exclusive contracts with legendary players such as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Converse, which almost had a monopoly on the market with its All Star Chuck Taylors and its muses. icons such as Larry Bird and Magic Johnson . It was in 1985 that Nike , initially known for its running models such as the Waffle Trainer and the Cortez , decided to attack the basketball courts with the Nike Dunk Low and High. She calls on Peter Moore , footwear designer who will design the Nike Dunk for us. Its name comes from the spectacular movement where the player makes a jump high enough to tap in order to get the ball into the hoop of the basket without leaving the ball in his hand. The goal? Accompany the players of the greatest university basketball teams. An exclusive contract was then signed between the equipment manufacturer and the following universities: The University of Iowa , Syracuse , St. John , Kentucky , Georgetown , Michigan and UNLV . Seven Nike Dunk High are therefore presented within the Be True To Your School pack. 14 years later in 1999, the Swoosh brand decided to bring out the pack by adding exclusive colorways specific to certain areas across the globe. It was in 2001 that Nike introduced the CO.JP collection, limited edition colorways only available in Japan . A veritable Dunk frenzy then set in among sneakerheads around the world.
COLLABORATIONS ON THE NIKE DUNK HIGH
In 2002, the Beaverton outfitter realized the impact Dunk Low and Dunk High sneakers had on the skateboarding world and created the Nike Skateboarding division more commonly known as Nike SB . The particularity of the silhouettes of this new range lies in its technological innovations. A Zoom Air cushioned insole is installed on all models in the range, as well as a padded tongue for optimal comfort during tricks. Nike's goal? Become a true reference in skate culture just as it is in basketball and football. To successfully charm the niche, SB's creative teams have teamed up with emblematic figures in the industry to offer the most original collaborations. These include the 2003 Supreme High Series pack consisting of three Dunk High Pro SBs in Varisty Red, University Blue and College Orange. Their upper featured a grained leather imitation crocodile skin as well as a golden deubré Supreme matched to the stars present on the upper. The SB section will collaborate in particular with musical artists such as the emblematic rap group DE LA SOUL who will have the right to its Dunk Low SB and a Dunk High SB like the late MF DOOM . In 2010, Hiroshi Fujiwara's Fragment Design label offered us the City Pack comprising three Dunk Highs respectively dedicated to New York, London and Beijing. The latter will be reissued in 2021. The same year, Korean designer Yoon Anh unveils her aerodynamic reinterpretation of the 1985 sneakers with the colors Black White, Deep Royal Blue, Cosmic Fuchsia and Flash Lime through the prism of her AMBUSH brand.
THE MOST TRENDING DUNK HIGH COLORS
The iconic sneaker has seen an explosion in 2020 thanks to the reissues of the OG colorways on the Dunk Low version and the Dunk High version. The retro edition of Kentucky Blue Game Royal, Syracuse White Orange, Panda Black and White and University Red. They will become must-haves for sneaker lovers and succeed in seducing the youngest thanks to the Rebel editions and their revisited design. Conversely, Nike will unveil its Dunk High 1985 range for purists. This version stands out from the others because it uses exactly the same structure as the sneakers made in the 80s. relic of the vintage model. An oversized sole with an aged look and thick leather refine the special edition which is a true ode to 80s basketball.