Family Is At The Center Of Nike’s “Día De Muertos” Collection

Día de Muertos is a holiday observed by much of the Spanish-speaking world on November 1st. The day sees people remember loved ones who’ve transitioned to the afterlife via ofrendas, altars decorated with traditional ornaments, flowers, and food. Ahead of this year’s celebration, Nike has unveiled four footwear and three apparel styles commemorating the holiday.

Developed through the brand’s Express Lane program, the 2023 Día de Muertos Con Mi Familia collection by Nike has been made available to consumers in a shorter amount of time than standard products. This way, fans of the Day of the Dead offerings can enjoy special makeups from the Air Jordan, Nike Air Max, and other lines.

Nike’s “Día de Muertos” sneakers will release globally on Saturday, October 21st, via the SNKRS app and at select Nike retailers. Nike Members in Mexico will have early dibs to the collection on October 18th.

Air Jordan 1 Zoom CMFT 2 “Día de Muertos”

Jordan Brand’s inclusion in the commemorative collection takes on a somber aesthetic, bringing grief to sneaker form. The result is an ornate Air Jordan 1 Zoom CMFT 2 done in “Black/Pale Ivory.” Traditional imagery of the November 1st holiday covers most panels across the brush-off leather upper, with floral embroidery taking center stage. A golden skull is stitched onto the shoe’s lateral heel, nodding to the dead. Collection-specific logos also appear on the sockliners, cementing Día de Muertos’s emphasis on family.

Nike Dunk Low “Día de Muertos”

Offered in women’s sizing, the “Día de Muertos” Dunks take on a healthy mix of eye-catching and muted tones. A shimmering golden makeup lands on the sneaker’s underlays, setting the stage for textured leather and colorful embroidery throughout. A rich pink animates traditional “Nike” branding on the tongue label and spine, while “Clear Jade II/Total Orange” animate the hummingbird and marigold image stitched onto the lateral heel. (According to Aztec mythology, the winged creature could carry messages from Mictlán, the underworld, to those on the living plane.) A gum brown outsole rounds out the special Nike Dunk Low.

Nike Air Max 1 “Día de Muertos”

Easily the most vibrant of the quartet, the Air Max 1 “Día de Muertos” is covered in “Hyper Pink.” Embroidered detailing across the upper mimic papel picado and crochet decorations laid out on commemorative altars for family that’s passed. The special take on Tinker Hatfield’s revolutionary design celebrates the liveliness that can accompany the Day of the Dead. Love, another emotion present on the occasion of remembrance, is highlighted on the shoe as two colibrí appear on the spines and right shoe’s sockliner.

Nike Blazer Mid ’77 “Día de Muertos”

Nike’s first basketball sneaker opts for an understated and simple look for Día de Muertos. At quick glance, the Blazer Mid resembles a seasonal offering, but closer inspection reveals holiday-specific design elements. “Summit White” uppers feature “Khaki” contrast via an airbrush effect. While seemingly random, the decision plays into the magic of the holiday, as suggested by the “Metallic Gold” moon embroidered onto the sneaker’s lateral heel. Swooshes on the profiles and “Nike”-branded underlays at the spine also partake in the whimsical touch. Underfoot, gum brown bottoms round out the family-focused shoe.

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