With the news of the new Nike x Sacai Cortezremembering his story is basically unavoidable. It was in 1972 when the co-founder of NikeWilliam Jay Bowerman, presented in Los Angeles the iconic Corteza by of athletics tennis that included for the first time the now mythical logo of the swoosh.
Since then, the classic silhouette has risen to unimaginable heights thanks to its adoption by the streetwear and pop culture (of course, we can’t forget when Forrest Gump used them).
To date, even before the Nike x Sacai Cortezthe clothing giant and Sports shoes has produced countless versions of the sneaker, collaborating with the likes of Bella Hadid, Kendrick Lamar and Commes des Garçons to put a new spin on their iconic sneakers.
A reinterpreted classic
The new version embodies the modern aesthetic of Sacai.Courtesy
To celebrate the 50th anniversary of sneakers, the brand has turned to its longtime partner Sacai to create your latest version: Nike x Sacai Cortez. The relationship between the two brands dates back to 2015, when NikeLab enlisted the help of the cult Japanese brand to improve its spring womenswear line. Over the years they have delivered the LD Waffles, Blazers and Vaporwaffles, fusing the heritage of Nike and classic retro sneaker silhouettes with signature design elements from Sacai.
Redesigning the classic Los Angeles skyline, Sacai has renewed the classic colorway white, blue and red Cortez from 1972 and has given it a typically avant-garde makeover. The upper of the shoes features a white leather base with the traditional red emblem of Nike, while blue and gray accents on the heel and lace pocket complete the color palette. The traditional stacked details of Sacai make their usual appearance here, while a unique use of the Zoom Air bubble is seen towards the front of the sole, positioning the Nike x Sacai Cortez as a totally separate model from its old editions.
Launch and price
The shoes were first shown at the FW22 menswear show in Sacai earlier this year and sneakerheads they have been waiting for its release ever since. Unfortunately, we don’t know the release date and price yet, but we can guarantee that the Nike x Sacai Cortez they will fly off the shelves once they go on sale.
Article originally published in GQ UK.
