Supreme and Nike SB’s Upcoming Collaboration: A Behind-the-Scenes Look at the Design Process
As the highly anticipated collaboration between Supreme and Nike SB continues to unveil its five-colorway set of SB Dunk Lows, a clear theme has emerged: bold shades, familiar branding, and luxurious suede uppers. But now, we’re getting a sneak peek at the early stages of the design process with the reveal of an early sample iteration of the collection.
The sample features a mix of hues and materials, with a similar color scheme to the “Ink” colorway of the collection. The shoe boasts a combination of grey, black, and rich purple shades, with the final branded details including the “94” embroidery on the lateral heel and the debossed Supreme logo on the midsole.
However, things take an interesting turn on the toebox and eyestays, where the familiar materials are swapped out for a pastel yellow leather on the lateral eyestay and toebox, and a slime green suede on the medial eyestay.
While we can only speculate, it’s likely that this colorway was never intended to be released. The sudden change in materials suggests that it may have been a simple material test rather than a deliberate design choice. The colorblocking also gives off a DIY vibe, resembling a Nike By You design created by an enthusiastic teenager rather than a carefully curated palette by professional designers.
Nevertheless, this sample offers a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at the multiple rounds of sampling and design that go into creating a footwear collaboration. So while we wait for the official release of the “Ink,” “Camper Green,” and “Fog” colorways, let’s enjoy this sneak peek and anticipate the Supreme x Nike SB Dunk Low to drop alongside Supreme’s seasonal collections in 2025.
