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Now, we see a lot of Nike Dunk Lows on the streets, and you might actually think that the first Dunks started out as low-cut. But in fact, they were high-cut sneakers in the beginning. Peter Moore, who by the way is also responsible for the Air Jordan 1, was the creative mind behind this distinctive silhouette, and he didn't call the sneakers "Dunk High". Back then, they were known as "College Colour High" and were purely basketball sneakers.

And that's where we've already arrived at the first models. For the first sneakers, Nike took inspiration from America's twelve leading basketball schools, including the University of Michigan, Iowa, Kentucky, and Georgetown. The Nike Dunk Highs quickly became a symbol of team spirit and shortly afterwards, they were given the name "Be True to Your School", which ultimately also formed the collection.

Later, however, people quickly realised that the Dunks could also look very good off the court. At the end of the '80s, some Dunks made their first appearance in the film "School Daze" by Spike Lee in the iconic pyjama party scene. After a few years, many fans and skateboarders then realised that the sneakers were also perfect for skating. With the big skate boom, more and more skaters relied on the comfortable midsole, the low shape with high stability, and the extremely good grip of the outsole. Nike quickly recognised the trend and developed its own line for skateboarding. The story of the Nike SB Dunk can be found in another article.

Nobody could have guessed that the demand for the Dunks would be so great. That's why Nike re-released the original colours of the Nike Dunk "Be True to Your School" collection in 1998. In 1999, the first collab with the music group Wu-Tang even followed. The Wu-Tang x Nike Dunk High is still one of the best and most expensive editions ever released. Some fans are even willing to pay reseller prices of €12,500 for a pair.

The History of the Nike Dunk Low & High Sneaker 

The Nike Dunk sneakers have a long and fascinating history. Originally released in 1985, the Nike Dunks were designed as basketball shoes, but they soon became popular off the court as well. With their colourful designs and high-top silhouette, the sneakers became a must-have for sneakerheads all over the world. Over the years, Nike has released numerous Dunk models, including the famous Dunk Low and Dunk High.

Who designed the Nike Dunk?

When it comes to iconic sneakers, the Nike Dunk is at the top of the list. But who was the genius behind the design? That honour goes to Peter Moore, a graphic designer who worked for Nike in the late 1980s. Moore had a passion for sneakers and had already designed models for adidas and other brands before joining Nike. For the Dunk, he drew inspiration from basketball and skateboarding culture, creating a shoe that is both stylish and functional. Today, the Nike Dunk is still a popular sneaker among collectors and fashion enthusiasts, and it all started with Moore's visionary design.

That's why it's called Nike Dunk and not College Colour High

When Tinker Hatfield and Peter Moore designed the Nike Dunk, it was initially called "College Colour High" because its bright colours were inspired by college sports teams. However, Moore changed his mind at the last minute when the release of the shoe coincided with the 40th anniversary of the first slam dunk in basketball history. In honour of this momentous occasion, Moore decided to rename the shoe the Nike Dunk. Decades later, the Nike Dunk is still a popular sneaker known for both its style and historical significance in the world of basketball.

Where Does the Design of the Nike Dunk Come from?

We already know that the Nike Dunk Low and High are true legends. But where does the big fame around the silhouettes come from? Is it because of Peter Moore, who designed other ingenious sneakers years later, or are there other reasons for the hype? One important component is definitely the unique and unmistakable design of the shoes. The Dunks are inspired by their "big brother", the Nike Air Force 1. The classic already had a big influence on other silhouettes, and the designer is said to have used some elements from the AF1, as well as some of the DNA from the Air Jordan 1.

Nike SB and Travis Scott Release a Dunk Low

In recent years, the Beaverton-based brand has released numerous ingenious colourways and thus permanently ensured an elevated hype level. But Nike has not only released sneakers on their own, but also with other labels. A very important part of this collab series was a brilliant collaboration in 2020, when Nike SB and Travis Scott released a Dunk Low with a wear-away upper. Since that day, the focus of sneakerheads, hypebeasts, and other fashion enthusiasts has been felt even more on the Nike Dunks. Incredible Dunks were also created with other partners like Off-White and Supreme, and they were completely sold out after only a few seconds.

2021: the Nike Dunk Becomes More and More Popular

The year 2020 was marked by countless Nike Dunks, and you could actually say that fans have had enough of the silhouette by now, right? But that's not the case at all, because new releases are still immediately sold out shortly after their release. The eternal battle for Nike Dunks continues in 2021. The label with the Swoosh is releasing the Nike Dunk "Be True to Your School" again after more than 20 years and thus attracting even more sports fanatics and retro lovers. Added to that are the leaks from insiders that keep us happy. In the new year, we can expect Nike to have more iterations in store. Some rumours have already been confirmed and scheduled.

Check out our release calendar or the Grailify app, and make sure you don't miss another Dunk release.
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Notre x Nike Dunk High Midnight Navy

 
€119

2021-01-21

Nike Dunk Low 365 By You

 
€120

2021-01-14

Nike Dunk Low UNVL

 
€109

2021-01-14

Nike Dunk Low Coast UNCL

 
€123

2021-01-14

Nike Dunk High Vast Grey

 
€133

2021-01-14

Nike Dunk High Football Grey

 
€61

2021-01-14

Nike Dunk Low Disrupt White Gold

 
€109

2021-01-01

Nike Dunk Low Multicolor

 
€105

2021-01-01

Nike Dunk Low Flip The Old School

 
€243

2021-01-01

Nike Dunk Low SE Rooted In Peace

 
€274

2021-01-01

Nike Dunk High First Use Sail

 
€108

2021-01-01

Nike Dunk High First Use University Gold

 
€143

2021-01-01

Nike Dunk Low Scrap Archeo Brown

 
€208

2021-01-01

Nike Dunk High Sports Specialties

 
€93

2021-01-01

Bodega x Nike Dunk High SP Legend

 
€122

2020-12-30

Nike Dunk High SP Iowa

 
€73

2020-12-09

Nike Dunk High SP Varsity Purple

 
€109

2020-12-03

Concepts x Nike Dunk High Turdunken

 
€85

2020-11-21

Nike Dunk Low Disrupt Black Gum

 
€55

2020-11-14

Nike Dunk Low Disrupt Pink Gum

 
€82

2020-11-14

Nike Dunk High Pure Platinum

 
€102

2020-11-13

Nike Dunk Low Disrupt Black/White

 
€181

2020-10-31

Slam Jam x Nike Dunk High Clear Black

 
€147

2020-10-30

Slam Jam x Nike Dunk High Clear White

 
€135

2020-10-03

Off-White x Nike Rubber Dunk University Blue

 
€363

2020-10-01

Off-White x Nike Rubber Dunk Green Strike (US excl.)

 
€418

2020-10-01

Off-White x Nike Rubber Dunk University Gold (Asia excl.)

 
€348

2020-10-01

Nike Dunk High Michigan

 
€85

2020-09-23

Nike Dunk High SP Pro Green

 
€84

2020-09-18

Nike Dunk Low SP Lemon Wash

 
€233

2020-09-10

Nike Dunk Low Disrupt Gym Red

 
€68

2020-09-04

Nike Dunk Low Disrupt Game Royal

 
€91

2020-09-04

Nike Dunk Low Samba

 
€84

2020-08-21

Nike Dunk Low SP Champ Colors

 
€83

2020-06-24

Nike Dunk Low SP Viotech

 
€163

2019-12-10

Nike Dunk High "Be True To Her School"

 

Coming soon

Nike Dunk Low Next Nature "Coconut Milk"

 
€102

Coming soon

Nike Dunk Low "Smokey Mauve"

 
€100

Coming soon

Nike Air Dunk Jumbo "Chinese New Year"

 
€181

Coming soon

Nike Dunk Low Disrupt 2 "Year of the Dragon"

 
€90

Coming soon

Nike Dunk Low "Give Her Flowers"

 
€94

Coming soon

Nike Dunk Low Remastered "Light Crimson"

 
€77

Coming soon

Nike Dunk Low "Iridescent Swoosh"

 
€100

Coming soon

Nike Dunk Low "University Gold"

 
€98

Coming soon

Nike Dunk Low "Dusty Cactus"

 
€74

Coming soon

Nike Dunk Low PRM "Urban Landscape 2.0"

 
€90

Coming soon

Nike Dunk High "White Concord"

 
€78

Coming soon

Nike Dunk Low "Joker"

 
€94

Coming soon