Brief History of the Nike Dunk Off White Collab
In 2019, Nike tapped Off White’s Virgil Abloh to take on one of its most iconic silhouettes: the Nike Dunk. Originally released in 1985, the Dunk Nike debuted as a college basketball sneaker, with OG colorways based on NCAA programs around the nation. But it quickly became more than just a hoops shoe— Nike Dunks were a surprise hit in the skate community, soon amassing a cult following (and culminating in the creation of Nike SB, in 2002).
2019: Abloh releases three collegiate-inspired Off White Nike Dunks
Reimagining the classic shoe, Abloh drew on the Dunk’s basketball and skateboarding legacies. Three Off White Dunks, in throwback colorways, paid homage to the OGs with college colors and old-school tongue tags. Abloh updated the retro-inspired Off White sneakers with his signature deconstructed aesthetic, including exposed foam at the tongues and distinctive cable cord overlacing.
2021: The “Dear Summer” collection debuts with 50 unique Off White Dunk colorways
As a follow-up to 2019’s Off White Dunks, in 2021, Nike and Off White debuted the “Dear Summer” collection. The sneaker collab included 50 fresh colorways of the Dunk Low. Dressed in neutral Sail and Grey bases throughout, Abloh distinguished each pair with numbering at the midsole and colorful flywire lacing, insoles and Swoosh tabs.
4 Iconic Nike Dunk Off White Shoes to Shop Now:
Nike Off White Dunk Low University Gold
When Nike unveiled the Dunk as the centerpiece of their College Colors program in 1985, seven different college teams were represented, with Michigan being one of the first. Abloh pays tribute to the Michigan original with this Off White Dunk in 2019’s University Gold colorway. A University Gold leather base covers the toe, mid-panel and ankle collar, while Navy leather overlays add collegiate-inspired contrast. Abloh’s signature orange overlacing completes the Dunk Low look.
Nike Off White Dunk Low University Red
These limited edition Off White Dunks, also from the 2019 Off White Nike collab, pay homage to the original UNLV Dunk High colorway from 1985. Reimagined as a low top, the Off-White Nikes echo the school’s colors with leather uppers in University Red and Wolf Grey. Virgil Abloh puts his signature spin on classic Nike Dunk detailing, with an orange-tabbed Swoosh, bright orange overlacing and Off White branding on the medial side of the Low Dunk.
Nike Off White Dunk Low Pine Green
Rounding out the 2019 drop, these Off White sneakers, in the limited edition collab Pine Green colorway, take inspiration from 2003’s “Gorge Green” Dunk. Uppers in contrasting Pine Green and bright white are accented with Abloh’s unmistakable touches, including an orange-tabbed Swoosh and bold branding on the medial side. The bright orange secondary flywire lacing especially stands out against the deep green of these Off White Dunks, adding a rugged pop to the essential streetwear silhouette.
Nike Off White Dunk Low Lot 01 of 50
In 2021 the “Dear Summer” collection, consisting of 50 different Off White Dunks, dropped as a follow-up to the original Nike Dunk Off White from 2019. These Off White shoes take the classic design to the next level with Virgil Abloh’s trademark flourishes: the famous overlace system, exposed foam at the tongue and sans-serif Off White Nike branding on the medial side. White leather uppers get a punch of color, thanks to seafoam green flywire cables, red Nike branding at the heel, and a metallic silver Swoosh. A “01 of 50” badge adorns the lateral midsole, identifying the Nike Off White sneakers as Lot 01 of the 50-piece sneaker collection.
