Nike is reviving a collaboration that’s been dormant for more than 15 years as it brings one of the most highly regarded fabrics in the world to the Dunk Low.
The Harris Tweed x Nike Dunk Low sees the staple sneaker get two colorways with uppers made out of Scotland’s famed woolen fabrics. A black-and-white colorway starts with houndstooth for its base and applies a more traditional check pattern for its overlays. Black leather is used for the Swoosh and mustache, with the color repeating for the lining, insole and outsole sitting beneath an off-white midsole.
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More colorful and more chaotic is the other variant, which employs the same houndstooth along with a pink and blue herringbone. These patterns see their placements reversed on the underlays and overlays on the left and right shoes. Brown suede is then used for the Swoosh and pink-branded mustache, which matches the outsole, laces and sock liner. More color arrives through a blue insole and pink midsole.
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Both colorways feature mismatched tongue patches with whip stitching, including the Harris Tweed Association label on the right shoe. And furthering the mission of texture are fuzzy laces.
Harris Tweed is merely a blanket label for tweed cloth that’s been handwoven with pure virgin wool in the homes of people in the Outer Hebrides of Scottland and made from pure virgin wool dyed and spun in the same island. The Harris Tweed Authority, aka the Guradians of the Orb, was established by parliament to safeguard the quality and reputation of Harris Tweed. Its label denotes that a fabric lives up to the standards required to be considered Harris Tweed.
The company actually responsible for the collaboration is Harris Tweed Hebides, which has been in the business since 2007. Margaret Ann Macleod, chief executive officer of Harris Tweed Hebrides, said in a press release: “This collection highlights how our island’s most famous export Harris Tweed continues to deliver the modernity and sustainability credentials to attract global design led businesses, like Nike.”
Nike last utilized Harris Tweed for an SB Dunk High and SB Dunk Low in 2009. Prior to that, another Nike capsule with the fabric consisted of the Air Force 1 Low, Blazer Mid, Vandal High, Terminator High and Terminator Low in 2004. For that original project, Scottish home weaver Donald Mackay received an order of 10,000 meters of cloth from Nike and linked with Shawbost Mill owner Derick Murray to have 50 of the island’s weavers fulfill the order.
The collaboration helped revitalize the local industry, and Macleod added: “We have built on the values of the original project, reflecting on Derick’s stewardship at the Shawbost Mill at that time, to Donald John’s remarkable response to Nike’s callback in the early 2000s, this new trainer collaboration reflects an enduring partnership and an island legacy. Welcoming Nike back to the Shawbost Mill on the Outer Hebrides of Scotland after 20 years has been a proud moment for our local community.”
The Harris Tweed x Nike Dunk Lows don’t yet have a confirmed release date but should release soon through the Snkrs app because of Harris Tweed Hebrides’ announcement. Pricing is set at $135.
