Nike Dunk is a line of shoes released by Nike in 1985. Originally released as a basketball shoe, the popularity of the shoe among the skating community also led to the creation of a variant used for skateboarding. The shoe is offered in low-, mid- and high-top styles.
Overview
Originally called the College Color High, the shoe was designed by Peter Moore and took elements from the Legend, Terminator, and Air Force 1 shoes.[1] The shoe was popular when it was first released due in part to the different color schemes that were released. These were created to represent the different colors of universities and their basketball teams.[2]
Models
Air Dunk
A version of the dunk that features the original upper of the shoe but with the sole of the Nike Air Train that contains the company's air technology.
SB Dunk
SB Dunk was used by Nike to enter the skateboarding market, launching a variant of the shoe made exclusively for skateboarding.[3] In establishing itself, Nike signed famous skaters such as Reese Forbes, Richard Mulder, Gino Ianucci, and Danny Supa to the first Nike SB skate team.[4] The shoe was successful among skateboarders and eventually achieved mainstream popularity and kept the line popular well into the 2000s.[5]
Air Dunk Jumbo
A chunkier version of the shoe that features premium suede materials in the upper with a bigger tongue and the sole includes the company's air technology to make it more comfortable to wear. It was released in 2022.[6]
Collaborations
Nike has collaborated with various companies and artists on the release of Dunk colorways.[7]
Collaborations with Chocolate Skateboards and Zoo York released in 2002.[8] Collaborations with Supreme, Futura, Bernard Buffet, and Eric Haze were released in 2003.[8] A collaboration with Unkle was released in 2004.[8] Collaborations with Stash and Stüssy were released in 2005.[8] A collaboration with Michael Lau was released in 2006.[8] A collaboration with MF Doom was released in 2007.[8] A collaboration with Comme des Garçons was released in 2017.[7] Collaborations with Travis Scott, and Ben & Jerry's released in 2020.[7][8] Collaborations with Stranger Things and Kirkland Signature were released in 2025.[9][10]
External links
References
- Dunk History: A Nike sneaker that went from hoops to hype Finish Line, 30 December 2020, retrieved 17 October 2023^
- What Are Nike Dunk Shoes?: An Overview Sneaker News, 2021-05-01, retrieved 2023-10-17^
- The History of the Nike Dunk and the Nike SB Dunk Hypebeast, 2021-06-11, retrieved 2023-10-17^
- Matt Welty. What You Didn't Know About the Nike SB Dunk Complex, retrieved 2024-05-05^
- Matt Halfhill. A Complete History of Nike SB Dunks Nice Kicks, 2019-09-10, retrieved 2023-10-17^
- First Look: Nike Air Dunk Jumbo “Phantom Black” SNKRDUNK Magazine, 2023-02-03, retrieved 2025-04-04^
- Allie Fasanella. Nike Dunks Through the Years: Photos WWD, 2024-01-25, retrieved 2025-10-28^
- Fabian Gorsler. The 50 Most Influential Nike Dunks in History Highsnobiety, 2024-04-12, retrieved 2025-10-28^
- Victor Deng. New 'Stranger Things' x Nike Dunk Collab Is Releasing Next Month Complex, October 25, 2025, retrieved 2025-10-28^
- Ian Servantes. Kirkland and Nike SB Made a Dunk — and It Looks Just Like the Famous Costco Sweatshirt WWD, 2025-09-16, retrieved 2025-10-28^