Nike SB Dunk Low

About

The Nike SB Dunk launched in 2002 as Nike's dedicated entry into the skateboarding market, described by a Sneaker Bar Detroit history piece as "a risk — bringing an '80s basketball shoe back in the 2000s." The SB designation stands for Skateboarding, a sub-brand Nike created to build credibility in skate culture. To establish authenticity, Nike signed prominent skaters including Reese Forbes, Richard Mulder, Gino Ianucci, and Danny Supa, as documented in Wikipedia's coverage of the Nike Dunk. The shoe proved successful among skateboarders and eventually achieved mainstream popularity, keeping the line popular well into the 2000s. Early collaborations demonstrated the programme's ambition. The first MEDICOM TOY collaboration released in 2004 featured a white upper with College Blue and Orange accents; a black denim follow-up in January 2005 "remained the benchmark" for subsequent releases. The partnership featured experimental materials including reflective 3M, Gore-Tex, and faux fur. Since 2002, the SB Dunk "has resisted definition while attracting devotion around the world."