The history behind Nike's Dunk Low "Viotech" Ups and downs of a legendary silhouette

It all started with an Instagram post, or almost. Last November Virgil Abloh, traveling from Paris Charles de Gaulle, posted on Instagram a photo where through his transparent Rimowa x Off-White you can recognize the unmistakable colorway of a Nike Dunk Viotech. In the following month Virgil posted two photos with multicolored Dunks at his feet, sparking the hype of his followers. And while prices on reselling sites splashed over three hundred euros and many discovered Nike's historic model for the first time. The Dunk Viotech, on the other hand, has a glorious history behind it and it is no coincidence that both Abloh and Nike have decided to bring it back into vogue. On December 10th they will be released for the third time.

The Dunks' trend is back in 2018, following the cyclical currents of fashion, thanks to new collaborations with historic brands such as Diamond Supply Co. and Concept. The year before, a new version of the Pigeon, the Dunk that in 2005 inaugurated the real sneakergame, had relaunched the model designed by Peter Moore after years of absence from the catalogs. This year the Dunks in collaboration with Parra and Supreme were just the starter ahead of the release of the Dunks designed by Abloh himself in a new iteration of the Nike x Off-White collabo.

Now is the right time: the Dunks are back among the shoes most desired by the public. The secondary market for the most iconic models has exploded in recent months, thanks in part to the advertising made to them by Travis Scott, who wears them in every possible situation. It is therefore no coincidence that Virgil Abloh chose this Nike model for his own reimagining, nor that he posted several teasers on Instagram.

There is no point in pointing out the impact that Instagram has had on the world of sneakers: since it arrived, the speed with which we consume new trends has increased, but above all the perceptions and desires of enthusiasts have changed radically. The success of 97/1 Wotherspoon and The Sacai Waffle teaches us how even the most daring pairings can suddenly become cult objects. What has been the Dunk Viotech for almost twenty years: finally one of the most popular models ever will be available again.