For the Nike Be True campaign which is to celebrate one of the all time beloved sneaker, the Dunk, artist Eisaku Kito has created a figure called DIVA which is currently displayed at Colette. Here’s Eisaku Kito’s inspiration behind the figure
“I got the idea of an angel from the white shoes and the color white. It’s not the kind of angel people imagine. It’s a mysterious being created by people – similar to a UFO. Sound is the hidden concept, or maybe, the result of my personal desire to want to hear sound. But, then again, Divas and angels are related to sound and music. And if you think about it, NIKE is the name of a goddess, so maybe it all ties together.”
Image: I Love Paris
Yesterday saw the debut of Nike’s Be True exhibition in Hong Kong outlining the upcoming Dunk releases as well as some of the most successful releases of the past. Within the exhibition are some Japanese inspired manga portraits which have made them way into a series of gifts which were handed out at the opening yesterday. These items include Moleskine-like notebook, Dunk comic book and printed canvas bag. The Be True exhibition will be on display for three weeks.
Nike Dunk: Be True
Exit by Double Park
73-75 Chatham Road South
Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon
Hong Kong
Not to bore you with details, but 2008 = Nike’s Year of the Dunk. UNDFTD will be releasing a series of Dunk t-shirts matching this years Be True To Your School Pack. Nice details with a prints reminiscent of old school mesh jerseys. New colors will release every Wednesday and Saturday until January 30th at ONEFOURTYFOURLAB.
ONEFOURTYFOURLAB
144 North La Brea
Nike Hong Kong recently launched its own Nike Dunk 2008 campaign with its Be True exhibition at Exit by Double Park. Much like previous instillations such as Bring that Beat Back by UNDFTD Radio, the Be True event featured Japanese artwork and the latest releases of Dunks. In addition a collection of some of the most memorable Dunk releases within the last few years were also on display. The event will run for three weeks at Exit by Double Park.
Nike Dunk: Be True
Exit by Double Park
73-75 Chatham Road South
Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon
Hong Kong
For Nike’s Dunk this year, various functions and releases will be going down in celebration of a sneaker which has transcended countless subcultures to become relevant amongst a large group of the youth. To track any upcoming events and showcase Dunk related information, Nike set up the Be True website. The newly launched site is currently limited in its function, however I’m sure Dunk fans would like to see an extensive encyclopedia of Dunk’s much like the counterpart AF1 site.
The devastatingly simple design of the Clear Box by Japanese artist Nao has become a popular commodity among sneaker fans alike. His original product was well received and resulted in collaborations with Sold Out and most recently Nort. For the upcoming release of the 2008 Be True To Your School Dunks, Nort teamed up with Nike and Nao to produce a special clearbox. The box will not be available for sale, instead the first 30 customers to purchase Nike Vintage products (i.e. BTTYS Dunks) will be given a box for free. Alternative methods include a raffle via Sneaker TV.
Image: Cweak
Seen are among the first set of releases to compliment the upcoming Be True To Your School pack. You’ll find some simple and attractive colorways. Breaking it down further, models include finely woven side panels, cracked paint uppers and a new high-top version of the Dunkesto. Available in early January at select retailers.
When the Nike Dunk first released in 2008, the impact it had on the sporting world and culture itself were unprecedented. When NCAA teams such as St. John’s, NC State, Michigan, Kentucky, UNLV, Syracuse, Arizona and Iowa first laced up their Dunks, a sense of authenticity and school pride among athletic performance were pinnacles. Soon after, skaters would adopt the Dunk for its good performance. The ability to transcend different cultures from the anti-establishment to team sports, was a testament to the Dunk’s wide appeal.
23 years after its inception, it’s undeniable the myriad of colors the Dunk has experienced. To keep things simple, Nike brought back a series of classic and original colors based inspiration from a Be True To Your School poster. They re-mastered the eight original Dunk colorways and incorporated a vintage treatment such as broken-in leather, ollie scars, weathered foam and stained laces. Other products will also be releasing as part of the collegiate theme with colorways from different NCAA entities. Available starting January.
As this year draws to a close, we all saw to what lengths Nike went to celebrate the Air Force 1. Come 2008, the limelight will be thrust upon the Nike Dunk as it hits its anniversary year. Enough talk as we shift focus to pictures which have surfaced regarding upcoming Dunk releases. Colors were kept clean and simple and although the use of horse hair in any regard is a touchy subject, the three-pack of solid colored uppers and white swooshes seem to have got things right. In some regards gum soles are a bit under represented these days. The Horse Hair Pack will release sometime between April and June while the other two are slated for July/August.
Image: Sneakernews
Last year was the release of the Tier 0 Nike Dunk Destroyers which included two colorways as well as matching Destroyers Varsity Jackets. Almost a year later, Nike has revived this concept with their latest release of the Nike Dunk High Destroyers. This time, Nike utilized a reddish brown colorway alongside the customary use of felt. Another jacket will release in association, the Subzero Down Jacket which bears reference to the Destroyers theme. The latest incarnation of the jacket takes a decidedly more technical approach unlike the traditional stylings of the Varsity jacket seen last year. Available now at Atmos.
Nike SB Brazil has just unveiled its Custom Series 02 Pico dos Sonhos Dunk Highs. Choosing three different skaters from the Nike SB Brazil team, each of them was given an opportunity to formulate their "dream spot". Each skater was paired up with an artist to conceptualize and put to canvas their respective ideas. The following pairings included the following, skater Rodrigo Petersen/Rimon Guimaraes, Cezar Gordo/Rafel Chavez and Fabio Cristiano/Luis Felipe Volpi&Caue Rodrigues. Enormous murals were created with the skaters ideas in mind. Each sneaker is limited to 480 pairs, with each pair including a different section from the mural effectively creating a very special and one of a kind sockliner for each pair of Dunk Highs.
Image: Pico dos Sonhos via Freshness
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