Jovani Hernandez Although the Lunar New Year is set to take place on Tuesday, February 1st, logistical issues have removed some of the fervor historically displayed by sneaker enthusiasts for footwear collections prepped for the event. And while no stateside release date is currently in sight, the newly-surfaced Nike Dunk High “Year Of The Tiger” has delivered a lot to be excited about.
Near-identical to a previously-seen Nike Dunk Low for kids, the upcoming sneakers maintain a mix of high quality materials, East Asian-inspired detailing and a tiger-appropriate color palette across the upper. Suede takes over the forefoot almost exclusively, with golden embroidery at the vamp and lateral toe interrupting the muted grey; messaging on left and right shoes translate into “good fortune” and “ward off evil,” respectively (“招财” and “辟邪”). Vibrant yellow tiger stripes also take over much of the high-top silhouette’s lower heel area, while intricate embroidery inspired by ancient Chinese currency and cloud-like figures land along the tongue, at the profile swooshes and throughout the ankle flaps in a matte black finish. The top of the tongue comes adorned with a pouch-like cover that features some of the same embroidery found elsewhere on the pair, and when opened, the attachment reveals three ingots placed atop a satin backdrop; inner lining follows suit, though the medial wall showcases jade in three different shapes. Lastly, sole units further nod to the change in the Chinese zodiacal calendar with a semi-translucent orange outsole that reveals tiger-inspired patterns.
As aforementioned, no stateside Nike SNKRS release date has been confirmed by the brand, but a release on SNKRS in China reveals a February 4th release date.
For more from the NIKE, Inc. family, check out the Air Jordan 5 “Racer Blue” launching on February 12th.
