Nike’s yearly celebration of Lunar New Year has become a staple of the sneaker space. Fans now look forward to the start of the year to celebrate the holiday in style. This year, Nike will celebrate the Year of the Snake by, very fittingly, releasing the Kobe V Protro.
As the pair is set to release- our SoleSavy Staff has looked back into the Nike Lunar New Year vault to pick our favorite releases. The list below is in chronological order- in terms of when the sneaker released.
Nike Dunk High “Year of the Pig” (2007)
Releasing early into Nike’s yearly celebration of Lunar New Year, the Dunk High broke the tradition of releasing Air Force Ones to celebrate the holiday. The use of materials and the embossed emblems are as iconic as the soft pink that dressed the upper. This Dunk High went on to inspire several other sneakers, especially within Nike SB.
Nike KD 4 “Year of the Dragon” (2012)
The Nike Basketball run in the 2010s was iconic. One of the sneakers that was the driving force of that time was the Kevin Durant KD4. With so many popular pairs already released at that point, the Year of the Dragon colorway was a hit upon its arrival in 2012. A 2.0 colorway was released last year- as the KD4 resurgence hit the ground running.
Nike Air Foamposite One Tianjin (2015)
Releasing in 2015, the Tianjin Foamposite marked a celebration of the rich Basketball culture in the city of Tainjin. The bold designs that dressed the upper are now iconic, and reflective of a time when the Foam was used as a canvas for iconic designs.
Nike Air Max 98 “Year of the Pig” (2019)
The Year of the Pig makes a second apperance in our staff picks, and it’s for good reason. The grooves and different use of materials on the 98 made for an easy template. Outfitted in several different materials and patterns- this sneaker stood out as one of the best from Nike’s expansive 2019 Lunar New Year celebration.
Air Jordan 1 Low OG “Chinese New Year” (2021)
2021’s celebration of the holiday brought us home to familiarity. In essence, this sneaker is a Bred Air Jordan 1– one of the most iconic sneakers of all time. The pair is dressed with a silk like material on the upper and tassels reminiscent of a traditional Chinese robe. The risk of dressing up such a classic colorway paid off, making this one of our staff’s favorite Lunar New Year Sneakers to ever release.
Nike Dunk High Retro PRM “Year of the Tiger” (2022)
Releasing around the peak of the early 2020s dunk crazy- the Year of the Tiger Dunk High scratched that itch for fans. Most Lunar New Year sneakers tend to take the route of vibrant colors, but this pair opts for a more simple look. This, of course, allowed for the embroidered tiger stripes to deliver the bold tribute to the holiday.
Air Jordan 1 Low OG “Year of the Rabbit” (2023)
At a time where brown and neutral sneakers began their dominance in the sneaker space, this pair managed to stick out from the bunch. One look at the use of different materials, and even the fuzzy laces, explain why. The Year of the Rabbits continued the legacy of releasing excellent Air Jordan 1 Lows to celebrate Lunar New Year.
Nike Kobe V Protro “Year of the Mamba” (2025)
Our final pick is this year’s Lunar New Year sneaker- the Year of the Mamba Kobe’s. Nike has celebrated Bryant’s legacy in a very tasteful and appropriate manner. This pair not only celebrates the Lunar New Year- it also celebrates the epic Mamba Mentality that made Kobe Bryant who he was.
The “Year of the Mamba” Kobe v Protro releases on SNKRS on January 9th.
