I’ve written earlier than how I’m a huge fan of Nike’s subtle “tributes” to things they don’t actually hold the license for, the latest example being a line of Prestos based on Star Wars characters like Boba Fett. These upcoming Good day Kitty sneakers, although, are the actual deal.
These have truly been rumoured for some time now, and have been first considered a long-overdue public launch of this 2004 collaboration, which have been supposed to see a wider drop however ended up touchdown within the arms of just some dozen fortunate family and friends:
For these not into sneaker historical past, these sneakers are kinda notorious! The peachy/pink colourway above was designed by Fragment’s Hiroshi Fujiwara, whereas the black one was labored on by Steven Smith, the “Godfather” of contemporary sneaker design whose credit vary from the Reebok InstaPump Fury to the Nike Zoom Air Spectrum to Adidas’ Yeezy line. There have been a further two colourways planned that never made it into production, as Smith remembers in this 2018 feature on Highsnobiety (disclaimer: I’ve written for this web site):
The Good day Kitty Air Presto was a part of a undertaking to rejoice the character’s thirtieth anniversary in 2004. Initially, in response to Smith, the pack was speculated to get a limited-but-available launch. However finally solely an estimated 12 pairs of every colorway made their technique to family and friends of Nike and Good day Kitty maker Sanrio. “I’m unsure why they grew to become so restricted,” says Smith. “The unique plan was for 500 of every fashion when the undertaking was first introduced to me.”
It’d sound odd given Good day Kitty’s goal demographic, however Smith was the best candidate to design the shoe. “Mark Parker [now Nike CEO, then co-president] knew how a lot I cherished Japan and Sanrio,” he says. “I might herald my Good day Kitty waffle iron and make everybody Good day Kitty head waffles a few times a 12 months only for enjoyable. I introduced my lunch every single day in a Good day Kitty or Unhealthy Badtz-Maru lunchbox. It simply appeared pure that I ought to work on the particular undertaking for Good day Kitty’s anniversary.”
These rumours proved to be a bit of off, although, as a result of the primary photographs of an officially-licensed 2022 collab have turned up this week and so they present a brand new design, that includes a blue colourway and, cutest of all, a customized heelcup that characteristic’s Good day Kitty’s face and trademark bow.
Alongside the sneakers, there may be additionally going to be a line of clothes to go together with them, that includes shirts like this:
The entire line is scheduled to drop on Might 2.
