Global sports brand Nike is set to drop a new design for its tenth shoe collaboration with NBA star, Kobe Bryant. The new colorway, called "Silk," speaks of Bryant's link to both the East and West, where he spent a lot of his years.
It is no secret that the Los Angeles Lakers' shoes with Nike are among the favorites in the brand's signature line and for good reason. Kobe X is a combination of an amazing shoe technology and vibrant design fit for any hoops player.
According to Sneaker Bar Detroit, the new "Silk" colorway of the signature sneaker is a tribute to the shooting guard's time spent in Europe and Asia.
The 36-year-old player, who was born in Philadelphia, lived in Italy when his family relocated there when he was just a child. He returned to the United States after his father retired, where he got drafted for the NBA.
Bryant would then spend a lot of his time playing his favorite sport and travelling to China as an adult.
The connection between his childhood in Italy and his China travels as an adult served as an inspiration to the people in Nike to come up with the "Silk" colorway.
The Kobe X takes its design from the legendary Silk Road which spans 4,000 miles to connect Europe and Asia, said Nike.
Its colors are influenced by the famous "1st century silk tapestries that often were designed in orange and burgundy motifs."
A look at the shoe would transport one back in time when vividly colored silk tapestries are in abundance.
The shoe's design is officially listed as Merlot/ Villain Red/ Total Orange/ Metallic Gold.
Kobe X "Silk" is predominantly a vibrant color of orange. Its open-weave upper textile is in Total Orange, which also boasts of a sharkskin pattern. Meanwhile, the shoe's tongue, shoelace, and back heel are all in Merlot color.
The tongue's back print is also in the color of Merlot.
A touch of Villain Red is found at the left back heel, a signature design of the Kobe X shoe. Finally, a gold Nike Swoosh completes the look.
The shoe would drop in Nike retailers and Nike.com on March 21.
Kobe X "Silk" would be sold at $180 a pair for adult sizes.
Young fans would also be able to grab a pair of these shoes as the colorway would be made available to kid sizes at $135 each.
