For those that remember the early days of the Nike takeover, it wasn’t just great sneaker designs and technology that propelled the brand to the front of the pack. Nike’s 80′s and 90′s ad campaigns gave the brand an added level of mystique and intrigue that not only drew attention to the products, but established their image as a forward-thinking, cutting edge force to be reckoned with. There were many cases where the shoes practically sold themselves, but when that fell short, advertising powerhouse Wieden & Kennedy stepped in and are now considered to be largely responsible for helping to mold Nike’s early image.
Many other brands took notice of the Swoosh approach and sought to replicate the fun and cool-factor of those early Nike ads, proving once and for all that just having a great product is only half the battle when it comes to selling goods and building a brand’s name and recognition. Keep reading after the jump for a walk down memory lane as we present a look at some vintage Nike ads sure to stir up some nostalgia for older sneakerheads and offer a nice history lesson to some of the youngsters who only know most of these models from their Retro returns. Via NT
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Exactly a week ago, you might have been sitting there in front of your computer reading up on what we felt were the biggest auctions within the AM eBay Memorial Fund. Did you bid on any? Even if you did, your $5 ante most likely was way out-bid by the crazy prices some of them finally ended up at. The Memorial Fund is definitely benefitting, selling a bunch of these shoes for more than double of their average resell value. The AF1 Playstations have already beaten the Pusheads $1225 mark. How how will they go!? Check out some new pairs that have been released onto the auction list since last week (including the Grammy Promo Dunk Hi’s previewed the other day).
>DJ AM Memorial Fund eBay Page
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This coming Black Friday 2009, Nike is set to release ten custom-designed and school-specific Nike Pro Combat College Football Packs. For each of the 10 universities, 9 custom metal cased Nike Pro Combat College Football packs were created. Each pack will include school-specific Nike Trainer 1s, t-shirt, athletic tape, Bicep Bands, oversized school mantra, D-Ring belt with school mantra and Eye Black. They will be available exclusively at Nike Sportswear @ 21 Mercer in New York City. For more detailed info regarding the special packs see below.
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Earlier today, we gave you a look at Knicks forward Jared Jeffries‘ home Air Jordan VIII Low PE’s, and now we turn our attention to the Black away versions. Like the others, these rep for the Knicks and Jeffries in style, making use of the classic color scheme to give these kicks a slick New York look. The shoe features a Black nubuck upper with touches of Royal Blue and Orange spread throughout the design. Although the strap that covers the laces still has Michael’s number 23 stitched into it, Jeffries’ number 20 is also included thanks to some personalized heel embroidery. If you wear a size 17 or just want to display some Knicks flavor around the house, you can scoop these up now from sole_supreme on eBay.
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Lebron, Lebron, Lebron. We can’t get enough of the dude. Despite his unsportsman-like conduct, after losing his chance at championship status, his athleticism and energy on the court still lures us in. And his Nike footwear is transformed a completely new look to reflect some potential new chapters in his career. The new Air Max Lebron VII is the most drastic change from its preceding shoe styles. There’s no doubt that if Nike is smart with color choices without saturating the market, this will set new standards for forthcoming basketball shoes.
This pair is intended to match the Cavs’ navy jerseys. Rightfully so, with the midnight navy, white, gold and red. Notice the seven red hits of flywire on the medial paneling- unique to this pair, it’s intended to represent the 7th edition of the Lebron signature series. Or the inspirational type found in the hologram caps underneath the sole. Details like that, though small, are notable and what guarantee this to be a dope pair. Not to mention they come in a collage box that resembles what the Jordan III’s used to come in. Already available at Kinstor, these will hit stateside tomorrow.
Nike Air Max Lebron VII
Style: 375664-111
Color: White/Midnight Navy-Varsity Red
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In addition to being the biggest shopping day of the year, Black Friday is also a safe bet for some special sneaker releases as well. DJ Clark Kent, who brought us his special “Black Friday” Air Force 1′s last year, is back with another offering for this year’s shopfest kickoff. As you are probably well aware by now, Clark created several new styles for Nike’s East vs. West series, and while we’ve already seen the Gucci Dunk High and earth-tone Air Force 1 Low pop up in stores, a lot of people were wondering when his mysterious Air Force 1 High would hit the shelves. Appropriately enough, the DJCK Air Force 1 High Supreme will be dropping tomorrow, dipped in an unmistakably New York color scheme.
West coast rival Eddie Cruz used the L.A. sports teams for his color inspiration, and here we see Clark battling back with a fresh Royal/Orange/Black color combo reminiscent of the Knicks and Mets. In addition to the slick colorway and premium materials, the shoe also comes with some special goodies, a Nike NYC logo patch and a special box that sports the old-school orange/grey striped Nike look that many of us remember quite fondly. If you’re feeling these, look for them at select Nike retailers tomorrow November 25th, and if you’re in the NYC area tomorrow night, there will be a special in-store release event at 21 Mercer where none other than DJCK himself will be providing the sounds.
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When it comes to winter, we hate to ruin our favorite pairs in slushy snow. Not to mention some of those kicks with canvas or mesh just ain’t cutting it against frosty temperatures. Nike’s been pushing out rugged solutions for all climates, but some may not fancy them for their too-boot-like or cumbersome looks. Alas, JB took one of its better hybrids, roided all up, and you have the Air Jordan Spiz’ike Winterized Boot. Not only is it brawny for beating around, but also comes with a insulated lining and water-resistent upper for extra protection against the elements. Some of you already know this, already rocking the black or brown pairs. But if you missed out or wanted something with a little more flare, this Flint Grey pairs comes with some hits of Cherrywood and Nightshade. Not super flashy, but at least its not monochrome. Pick up a pair now at WishATL
Jordan Winterized Spiz’ike
Style: 375356-061
Color: Flint Grey/Cherrywood Red-Nightshade
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While Jared Jeffries and the New York Knicks may be off to another lackluster start this season, Jared’s Air Jordan PE game is officially in overdrive. We’ve recently shown you some of Jared Jeffries’ fresh personalized Jordan kicks like the XX3 Low, as well as home and away colorways of the Air Jordan V. Now, we bring you a look at another perk of his Air Jordan affiliation, the Air Jordan VIII Low in a home Knicks color scheme. The shoe sports a White leather upper with a section of Grey on the heel and splashes of Royal and Orange on the midsole and outsole. As with many of his other PE’s Jeffries’ number 20 is stitched into the heel. If you’re a Knicks fan struggling to get through another rough season, maybe these kicks can brighten your day a little. You can cop this pair of size 17′s now from sole_supreme on eBay.
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