Collection: Nike Dunk High

NIKE DUNK HIGH: THE TIMELESS HIGHOP

NIKE DUNK HIGH: ITS STORY

In the early 1980s, the basketball shoe market was largely dominated by Adidas, thanks to exclusive contracts with legendary players like 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 tackle basketball courts with the Nike Dunk Low and High. She called on Peter Moore , a footwear designer who designed the Nike Dunk for us. Its name comes from the spectacular movement where the player jumps high enough to perform a tap dance to bring the ball into the hoop of the basket without taking the ball out of his hand. The objective? Support players from the biggest university basketball teams. An exclusive contract is 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 Highs are therefore presented within the Be True To Your School pack. 14 years later in 1999, the Swoosh brand decided to relaunch the pack by adding exclusive colors specific to certain areas across the globe. It was in 2001 that Nike introduced the CO.JP collection, limited edition colors only available in Japan . A true Dunk frenzy then took hold among sneakerheads around the world.

COLLABORATIONS ON NIKE DUNK HIGH

In 2002, the Beaverton equipment manufacturer realized the impact of Dunk Low and Dunk High sneakers on the world of skateboarding 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. An insole with Zoom Air cushioning is featured on all models in the range as well as a padded tongue for optimal comfort during tricks. Nike's goal? Becoming a true reference in skate culture just as it is in basketball and football. To succeed in charming the niche, SB's creative teams have joined forces with emblematic figures of the sector in order to offer the most original collaborations. We can notably cite the Supreme High Series pack from 2003 consisting of three Dunk High Pro SB in Varisty Red, University Blue and College Orange. Their upper featured grained leather imitation crocodile skin as well as a golden Supreme deubré matching the stars on the upper. The SB section will collaborate in particular with musical artists such as the emblematic rap group DE LA SOUL who will be entitled 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 dedicated to New York, London and Beijing respectively. The latter will see a reissue in 2021. The same year, Korean designer Yoon Anh unveils her aerodynamic reinterpretation of the 1985 sneaker with the colors Black White, Deep Royal Blue, Cosmic Fuchsia and Flash Lime via the prism of her brand AMBUSH .

THE MOST TRENDY COLORS OF THE DUNK HIGH

The iconic sneaker exploded in 2020 thanks to the reissues of the OG colors 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 attracting 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 has exactly the same structure as the sneakers made in the 80s. They are adorned with faded uppers which illustrate the appearance relic of the vintage model. An oversized sole with an aged look and thick leather refine the special edition which stands out as a true ode to 80s basketball.