Nike SB has easily been one of the most popular sneaker models in recent memory; it’s even seen a bunch of new colorways and renditions this year. Nike is obviously aware of the sneaker’s popularity and continues to create an ever-flowing amount of new models. With the brand’s Grateful Dead collab on the horizon, this new Nike SB is outfitted in a fresh and interesting way.
For those who don’t know, Grateful Dead is a rock band that was formed in the 1960s. The California band is known for their psychedelic, funky sound, which helped to pioneer a brand new sound in the rock community. During their glory days, Grateful Dead mixed a number of different genres and themes to create their sound—this same creativity is reflected in the new Nike SB collaboration effort by mixing different colors, materials, and styles.
The Nike SB x Grateful Dead collection features three upgraded renditions of the Nike SB. Coming in orange, green, and yellow, each colorway features a two-tone upper decked out in faux-fur and suede. The faux-fur helps each of the sneakers pop, taking on the respective color and setting it apart from other renditions of the Nike SB. The faux-fur is seen on the toe cap, a section on the side of the shoe as well as below the back ankle tab—the rest of it is suede.
If you take a deeper look at the sneaker’s actual design, you’ll definitely notice how different it is from the regular SB model. The material and design choices really help the sneaker stand out as the Nike swoosh dons sharp black spikes. The faux-fur and suede mix with the other design elements throughout the shoe to create an interesting look. The ankle tab is made up of suede and features classic Nike lettering. Underneath the ankle tab is a bit of some lighter faux-fur, separated by the base of the sneaker’s Nike swooshes.
One of the more important design elements is on the tongue. Rather than showing a Nike SB logo, the tongue features a marching bear logo, which is taken from the band’s 1973’s History of the Grateful Dead LP. The logo itself is inspired by Bear, an audio engineer that worked with the band. “As the band’s benefactor, Bear was an incredibly huge part of the Grateful Dead’s ability to become who they were,” says David Lemieux, the historian of the band. “They were talented musicians, but they would have the financial freedom to forgo jobs, move to Los Angeles in 1966 and practice for 14 hours a day. While there’s not much about the bears that connect to the Grateful Dead’s success, the band wouldn’t become what it is today without Bear’s contribution. The same fiercely independent spirit from Bodecker helped create that authenticity within the skate community.”
The Nike SB x Grateful Dead collection is definitely an interesting and unique take on the Nike SB model! Grateful Dead and Nike bring the diverse sound of the band to life through this particular pair of sneakers. The orange colorway is set to drop before the others, releasing exclusively through FTC Skateshop on July 18th. The green and yellow colorways are set to release on July 24th. All three colorways have a retail price of $110 USD, coming in at a fair price for such a unique pair of shoes.
What do you think of the collaboration between Nike and Grateful Dead? Are you a fan of these three new renditions of the Nike SB, or do you think another design would do the collaboration better justice? Let us know your thoughts and opinions in the comments.
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