The New 'King-fu Kenny' Nike Cortez Honors Kendrick Lamar
Riley von Niessen — December 20, 2017 — Pop Culture
References: nike & highsnobiety
Kendrick Lamar recently collaborated with Nike to create a new look for its popular 'Cortez' model, which was dubbed the 'Kung-Fu Kenny,' to reflect the alter ego that the rapper uses.
The sneakers boast a sleek and narrow build, with the uppers overtaken primarily by a deep hue of vivid red and white, with the latter providing some contrast and marking Nike's iconic Swoosh logos on the sides. Overlaying the black laces is a matching band that goes through the entirety of the tongues, which boast the words "DON'T TRIP" in a Gothic white lettering. In addition, Chinese lettering marks the sides of toes in white, which is said to have a double entendre meaning that translates to "Supposed to Die" and "Damn."
The sneakers boast a sleek and narrow build, with the uppers overtaken primarily by a deep hue of vivid red and white, with the latter providing some contrast and marking Nike's iconic Swoosh logos on the sides. Overlaying the black laces is a matching band that goes through the entirety of the tongues, which boast the words "DON'T TRIP" in a Gothic white lettering. In addition, Chinese lettering marks the sides of toes in white, which is said to have a double entendre meaning that translates to "Supposed to Die" and "Damn."
Trend Themes
1. Collaborative Sneaker Design - While musicians and artists have been collaborating with sneaker brands for years, the popularity of these unique designs creates the opportunity for further collaborations to produce disruptive innovations.
2. Personalized Fashion Statements - The success of the 'Kung-Fu Kenny' design shows that consumers are interested in more than just function when it comes to footwear, presenting an opportunity for brands to create personalized, statement-making designs.
3. Cultural Inclusivity - The incorporation of Chinese lettering on the shoe demonstrates a push for cultural inclusivity, which presents an opportunity for other sneakers to incorporate cultural elements and embrace diversity in their designs.
Industry Implications
1. Athletic Footwear - The sneaker industry can explore collaborations that incorporate cultural elements to create statement-making designs that appeal to a wider audience.
2. Fashion and Music - The collaboration between musicians and fashion brands is a growing trend, presenting an opportunity for further exploration and experimentation in design crossovers.
3. Streetwear - The popularity of streetwear fashion presents an opportunity for sneaker brands to create designs that cater to this demographic, embracing unique and edgy designs.
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