From basketball court to fashion must-have

The success story of the Dunk model began 35 years ago. It is not without reason that it is based on dunking in basketball, as the shoe was developed for this sport among others. It was also able to establish itself quickly on the sports fields, even if Nike occasionally helped out a bit here.

The Nike Dunk is based on the Air Force 1 and was first introduced in 1985. Nike combined this with the "College Colors" program, in which the company designed the Dunk in the individual colors of the respective colleges and also brought out different teamwear to match. College sport is very popular in the USA and is just as popular as professional sport in other countries. As a result, this line from Nike also reached many fans, who contributed significantly to the success and popularity of the Dunk. Of course, Nike's advertising strategy was also an important factor, because Nike's reference to the college colors was also staged in the media and the shoes could be seen in many print media.

The Nike Dunk could be seen in many films and music videos, including "School Daze" in the late 1980s. By this time the Dunk had long since established itself on the basketball courts and it slowly made its way into everyday life. An important stopover, however, was the 1990s, when the trend towards skateboarding emerged. Skateboarders of course also needed robust shoes that, similar to basketball, had to be able to withstand jumps even if the board was underneath.

For the skateboarders the shoe brought some important features. Compared to other models like the Nike Air Force 1, the sole of the Dunk was significantly lower. This gave the skateboarder a better feel and more direct contact with the board. Nevertheless, the sole had very good cushioning properties, rounded off with a robust upper material that survived falls without problems and protected the foot well.

Since then, the Nike Dunk has been released in new versions, some of which are only available in limited editions. These models in a limited number of pieces achieve sometimes high prices, especially among collectors. The original Nike model is still a sought-after collector's item today.

Nike Dunk Low

The Nike Dunk is available in low and high versions. The Low is characterized by a simple and elegant design. It reflects the typical design change that a shoe goes through, it was originally designed for sports and later established as streetwear. Compared to the Dunk High, a low cut was deliberately chosen because it is used less for sports, which means that no additional support is needed in the ankle area.

Nike Dunk High

A sports shoe can also have style, which the Nike Dunk High clearly proves. Its design or shape is based on the original sports shoe. It gives extra support, which makes it suitable for the basketball court even today. Nike has already shown with its college edition that a sports shoe can also look good. This is still evident today through creative designs in which the Nike Dunk High appears again and again.

Nike SB

The Nike SB is a modification of the Nike Dunk. It was designed to appeal specifically to skateboarders and special modifications were made to make the shoes even more appropriate for this sport. One of the modifications was an insole that provided better cushioning. This clearly shows the difference to basketball, because the speed of the board meant that the forces were sometimes greater than when jumping from a basketball player. The sole itself was provided with more grip, which guaranteed a better hold on the board. In addition, the tongue became thicker, which meant additional protection for the foot.

Highlights of the Nike Dunk Series

Like many of Nike's shoe series, the Dunk is available in special editions that differ mainly in their designs. Some of these shoe variations were so popular that they were sold out within a short time.

Off-White

The Nike Dunk Off-White is a must-have for every sneaker fan. The Off-White is available in different versions. The classic version is a white base color with colorful accents. What no Off-White should miss are the striking laces, which are always in a red tone in almost all variations.

Travis Scott

The Nike Dunk was not only very popular in the movies, but also with rappers. Many times the Nike Dunk could be seen in the videos and was also worn privately by the artists. Not surprisingly, this also led to cooperations with rappers like Travis Scott, who gave the Dunk their own design. Travis Scott brought his song "La Flame" to life. The artist's record label was printed on the heel. In the colours this model is restrained, but scores with a variety of patterns. High-quality materials such as the finest nubuck leather were also used, which was supplemented with textile elements. This also promotes better air circulation on the foot.

Limited Editions

There are several limited editions of the Nike Dunk that have some special visual features. One of them is the Nike Dunk Sky Hi Liquid Gold, which may not be to everyone's taste, but has its fans. The shoe has a shiny gold look and gives every outfit a certain glamour. Within seconds the Nike Dunk Low Ben & Jerry's was also sold out, which was based on the famous design of Ben & Jerry's. The Nike Dunk Low Samba, which was also only available in a limited edition, had a design that was suitable for everyday use.