Next year will mark another landmark in Nike’s illustrious history. It will be two decades since the giant sports brand introduced the SB Dunk. Launched in 2002, when Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter hit the big screen and Enrique Iglesias was being a Hero, the new sneakers shaped a fresh look at the start of the century. Iconic.
Featuring padded tongues, collars and ‘Zoom Air’ insoles, the Swoosh dominated the kicks and became instantly recognisable. Here we profile some of the rarest and most expensive SB Dunks out there...
Nike SB Dunk Low Paris
They look like a work of art and that’s because they are. Featuring original Bernard Buffet imagery, the French expressionism painter who passed away in 1999, on the heel, toe box and panels along the laces, they certainly stand out.
With splashes of colour adding to the uniqueness of the style, they were produced with cuts of printed artwork meaning no two pairs are the same. Right now, they are valued at just under £22,000 on StockX, after only 202 pairs were made back in 2003.
Price: £21,910
Supreme x Nike SB Dunk Cement
Launched in September 2002 with a retail price of just £48, you would now need to pay 80 times that to land a pair of these babies as only 500 pairs were made. Using the elephant print from the Air Jordan 3, the black Swoosh and red trails compliment the trainer for a fresh look making these one of the most popular among collectors.
Price: £4,017
Nike SB Dunk Low ‘Freddy Krueger’
There is an astonishing tale behind why these trainers are so damn hard to get hold of. According to Input magazine, Nike created the Freddy Krueger kicks in 2006 to pay homage to ‘A Nightmare on Elm Street’ but were forced to halt production after receiving a cease and desist letter from New Line Cinema the studio behind the film. The story goes that a few of the sneakers had already made it to retailers and now, they sell for more than £20,000! Truly frightening in every sense.
Price: £20,086
Staple x Nike SB Dunk Low ‘NYC Pigeon’
These were extremely popular in 2005 and the demand is still there in 2021. Highsnobiety report that the sneakers, created by Jeff Staple, a brand “which reflects the gritty and never-ending energy New Yorkers (and all urban dwellers) possess”, were so in-demand on release that stores were sneaking their customers out the back of the shop to avoid them being mugged. Now, they sell for ten quid short of £19,000. If you land a pair, keep tight hold!
Price: £18,990
Concepts x Nike SB Dunk Low ‘Yellow Lobster’
Created and only available for friends and family of the retailer in 2009, these are rare. Very, very rare. In fact, Nike have openly admitted that finding a pair of these seriously sought-after sneakers are almost as tricky to locate as an actual yellow lobster - that’s 40 million to one to be precise. Good luck.
Price: £12,000
