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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.
Check out our release calendar or the Grailify app, and make sure you don't miss another Dunk release.
Nike Dunk Low Remastered "Black/Gold"
€130
Nike Dunk Low "Cyber"
€75
Nike Dunk Low "Reverse Curry"
€70
Nike Dunk Low "NBA Paris"
€80
Nike Dunk Low JDI "Bronzine"
€79
Nike Dunk Low "Dark Team Red"
€64
Nike Dunk Mid "Dark Stucco"
€88
Nike Dunk Low "Grey Fog"
€69
Nike Air Dunk Jumbo "Chinese New Year"
€165
Nike Dunk Low Next Nature "Smoke Grey"
€62
Nike Dunk Low Next Nature "Navy/Gold"
€78
Nike Dunk Low Next Nature "Platinum Violet"
€65
Nike Dunk Mid "Panda"
€120
Nike Dunk Low "Bronzine"
€77
Nike Dunk High "Doernbecher XIX" (US-Exclusive)
€126
Nike Dunk Low "Malachite Gold"
€66
Nike Dunk Low "Fierce Pink"
€90
Nike Dunk Low "Game Royal Navy"
€80
Nike Dunk High PRM "Sesame"
€81
Nike Dunk Low "Starry Swoosh"
€103
Nike Dunk Low "Gorge Green/Obsidian"
€87
Nike Dunk Low Premium "Bacon"
€53
Nike Dunk Low PRM "Deep Jungle"
€98
Nike Dunk Low "Mixed Fabrics"
€96
Nike Dunk Low "From Nike, To You"
€107
Nike Dunk Low "Mystic Red"
€74
Nike Dunk Low "Pale Coral"
€63
Nike Dunk Low "Leaf Veins"
€105
Nike Dunk Low "Red Stardust"
€88
Nike Dunk High SE "Baroque Brown"
€89
Kyler Murray x Nike Dunk Low "Be 1 of One"
€203
Nike Dunk Low "Diffused Taupe"
€66
Nike Dunk Low "Cool Grey"
€80
Nike Dunk Low "Athletic Department"
€99
Nike Dunk Low "Metallic Silver"
€58
Nike Dunk Low Remastered "Phantom"
€93
Nike Dunk Low "Pink Gingham"
€90
Nike Dunk Low Twist "Lemon Twist"
€81
Nike Dunk Low "Burgundy Crush"
€134
Nike Dunk Low PRM "Oil Green"
€89
Nike Dunk Low "Hyperflat"
€142
Nike Dunk Low "Red Panda"
€116
Nike Dunk Low Disrupt 2 "Plaid"
€103
Nike Dunk Mid "Halloween"
€106
Parris Goebel x Nike Dunk Low
€85
Nike Dunk Low "From Nike To You"
€52
Nike Dunk Low "Dia De Muertos"
€113
Nike Dunk Low "Light Smoke Grey"
€69