It didn’t take long, but 2021 is already on and popping. While certain aspects of the young year feel a tad too close to the one we just finished, there’s still plenty of optimism and good news to get excited about.
The biggest news this week for sneakerheads? It looks like we’ll finally have Dunks for all! The retro model that absolutely ran 2020 but also quickly ran out of stock is releasing in a wave of colorways this week. In addition, we have an archival adidas on the way back, a range of Raygun releases, and slightly citrus hues from both Yeezy and Jordan.
Get all the history and cultural cache to this round of drops in the latest Sole Facts.
1/13
adidas Forum Low OG
- The adidas Forum High debuted in 1984 as a luxury basketball shoe set to tip the scales by retailing at a then-outrageous $100. In the ‘80s, the Forum High was a status symbol in the streets thanks to its prestigious price point and a go-to favorite on the court for Patrick Ewing as a rookie on the New York Knicks. Much like the Nike Dunk of the same era, the Forum found fame in the 2000s off the court by way of below ankle skate styling and countless casual collaborations.
- This vintage bringback continues to lean into the beloved aged aesthetic by bearing an off-white base, sail sole detailing, and slightly yellowed soles. Suede stripes and archival adidas Trefoil branding cap off the heritage look that’s both old fashioned and on-trend.
- Does this low top look familiar? Not only did its high top counterpart closeout 2020 with a 12/22 launch, but an almost identical low top collaboration with Sneaker Politics branding was handed out for free last year in friends and family fashion.
1/14
Nike Dunk Low “UNLV” (EU Release)
- The Nike Dunk first released over the course of the 1985-86 basketball season with a focus on the collegiate level. A slew of two-tone takes tied to the top college programs across the country was worn on court by bright NCAA talent and sold to the public just the same.
- An original makeup from the Be True to Your School campaign in 1985-86, the “UNLV” rendition ties directly to the University of Las Vegas Nevada Runnin’ Rebels men’s basketball program. Over the course of that campaign, the entire team could be seen in the Red/Grey Dunk with players favoring the high in competition.
- In recent years, the low top “UNLV” Dunk has been rerendered in Flyknit in 2017 and by way of Virgil Abloh in 2019 via an Off-White collaboration.
Nike Dunk Low “Black/White” (EU Release)
- The Nike Dunk Low Black/White is the most decided Dunk in regard to the brand’s canvassing hopes for the model to be widely adopted as a lifestyle staple. Of the January 14th drops, this is the lone launch that’s hitting in men’s, women’s, and kid’s sizing.
- Despite bearing the most foundational hues and a classic Nike palette, this is not an original colorway though many inline, SB, and SP Dunks have played with the same colors only with different blocking or detailing.
- Very recently, an assortment of similarly styled Dunks has dropped with a Black/White base to include Slam Jam and Ambush collaborations as well as a Disrupt launch.
Nike Dunk High “Vast Grey” (EU Release)
- The Nike Dunk High “Vast Grey” is exactly what it’s dubbed to be – a white-based Dunk High with vast grey serving as the contrast tone. Be True to Your School in styling but having no origin to an early or now existing college campus, this pair once again sees the latest Dunk revival returning to its roots but bending oh so slightly.
- Releasing in men’s sizing, this simple style shows shades of “Sail Pack” and VNTG variations from ‘12 and ‘08, only leaning on an icy white upper with no aging.
- In the coming months, the Nike Dunk High is supposed to be more accessible and is slated to return in the famed, original “Syracuse” High.
Nike Dunk Low “UCLA” (EU Release)
- As addressed, the Nike Dunk stormed college basketball during the 1985-86 season. While a slew of new Nike schools wore this classic on the court, the University of California Los Angeles was a PUMA program at the time. The Walt Hazzard coached team was led by the likes of Reggie Miller, Pooh Richardson, and the late Jack Haley.
- This “UCLA” colorway is officially dubbed Sail/Coast, which denotes the slightly left of white upper and coastal blue overlays. As alluded, these are not an original colorway but evoke the same school sentiment as ‘80s launches. They are also a women’s exclusive.
- This colorway — though planned and produced months prior – times out very nicely with UCLA becoming a Jordan Brand school in 2020 and the Bruin palette proving popular on the latest UNDFTD x Nike Air Max 97 collaboration.
Nike Dunk High “Football Grey” (EU Release)
- The Nike Dunk High “Football Grey” leans all the way into the vintage vibes that represent one current of the Dunk craze. This lifestyle launch is based in basketball by its build and two-tone palette but goes left with a color combo tied to no team.
- A women’s only launch, the “Football Grey” pair is contrasted by sail – rather than white – for an aged aesthetic and added opulence. The quoted color by contrast is also a hue bender, landing somewhere between eggshell blue and flat silver. In many ways, this style is similar to the “Neutral Grey” VNTG Dunks that dropped in ‘08.
- For those keeping track at home, women’s exclusive Dunk Highs have been seen recently by way of the “Varsity Purple” pair and AMBUSH collaborations.
Nike Air Max 1 LV8
- The Nike Air Max 1 debuted in 1987 and served as a landmark moment in the history of the Beaverton brand. Designed by Tinker Hatfield, the former Oregon track standout looked to expose the brand’s Air technology after being inspired by Paris’ Georges Pompidou Centre.
- This LV8 iteration elects rich variations of leather on the upper in favor of the standard mesh and suede composition. In addition, the famed mini Swoosh is embroidered on the mudguard for added nostalgia tied to atmos collaborations among other favorites.
- In the early ‘90s, the Air Max 1 began to experiment with all leather construction by way of AM1/90 hybrids. By the mid ‘90s, leather AM1s were released in standard shades and with jewel Swoosh branding. Around the early ‘00s, AM1s constructed of leather became commonplace as bolder colors and themed launches grew.
1/15
Nike & Converse Rayguns Collection
- The Roswell Rayguns are a fictional basketball franchise birthed by Nike ads from the early 2000s. ABA in influence and hailing from New Mexico, their uniform ethos played upon UFO inspiration and ’70s style. In an array of TV advertisements, NBA athletes such as Vince Carter, Jerry Stackhouse, Paul Pierce, Jason Williams, Baron Davis, and Jermaine O’Neal appeared as did musical icons such as Bootsy Collins, George Clinton, and Snoop Dogg.
- The 2021 Nike Rayguns collection steers back to basketball, introducing themed takes on the Air Force 1 Low, Air Raid, Air More Uptempo, Blazer, and Kyrie 7. For the first time, Converse is also in the fold with Chuck Taylor and Pro Leather silos making sense based on the TV team’s vintage vibes.
- Previously, the Rayguns theme has played guest on the SB Dunk Low and various Kyrie PEs and releases. Similarly, Nike’s “Area 72” collection for the 2013 NBA All-Star Game was loosely based on Raygun folklore, bridging the gap between the vintage comic logo and the previous 2012 “Galaxy” collection.
1/16
adidas Yeezy 700 V3 “Safflower”
- First released in December 2019, the adidas Yeezy 700 V3 is the third generation of the progressive lifestyle running series with Waverunner roots. Unlike the V1 and V2, the V3 does not feature Boost but rather EVA foam.
- This “Safflower” colorway appears to introduce a 2021 theme of citrus hued Yeezys. In the coming months, tones of yellow and orange are slated to appear on the original 700 models as well as the 380 and 500.
- Mark Miner is said to have worked on the design of the Yeezy 700 V3 with previous creative credits including Nike Free favorites.
Air Jordan 13 “Starfish”
- The Air Jordan 13 hails from the start of Jordan Brand and Michael Jordan’s last season in Chicago. The Tinker Hatfield creation first debuted in 1997 and was inspired by MJ’s black cat persona as represented by the panther paw inspiration on the sole.
- While the “Starfish” rendition is not an OG colorway, it does pack familiar roots. Over the course of the 2000s, Jordan Brand athletes like Quentin Richardson and Gerald Wallace wore White/Orange AJ13 PEs in NBA action. Personalized tongue tagging aside, this “Starfish” style packs black pods on the sole for contrast and perhaps a nod to the trending “Shattered Backboard” palette.
- In the past, orange has appeared on the Air Jordan 13 in the form of a 2005 low top launch and 2020’s “Playground” pair.