If there’s one sneaker that best represents the decade that was the 2000s, it’s the Dunk. The launch of Nike SB in 2002 saw the humble 80s basketball shoe rise the ranks from budget footwear staple to riot-inducing collectible in a way that nobody could have predicted, establishing a new standard for hype in the process.
Nike AM90 Viotech Vibes Hit Spain
Although, while most of the decade was dominated by puffy tongues and coveted collabs, there was one Dunk release that managed to steal hearts and snap necks without SB certification: 2002’s ‘Viotech’ Dunk.
Originally released as a CO.JP exclusive, available only in Japan, the ‘Viotech’ Dunk was like no release before it. The premium suede and mesh sneaker was bright, loud and in your face – whether you liked it or not! Despite arriving the same year as Nike SB’s debut, the ‘Viotech’ Dunk made those original SB offerings look safely sedate by comparison. It wasn’t a shoe for everyone, but it certainly found its admirers. It became a repeat offender in weekly celebrity sneaker spotting reports. Musicians like Wale and Pharrell repped theirs with pride, but a pair even found its way on to the feet of comedian Robin Williams, who memorably rocked his paired with a short sleeve Bape camo shirt.
The ‘Viotech’ Dunk’s significance in history was honoured with a retro in 2013. Aspects of the shoe were slightly tweaked for its second outing, but it was a must-buy for those unable to cop the original due to its uber-limited release and exceptionally high resale price tag.
This year, Nike has again honoured the legacy of the ‘Viotech’ Dunk with two different ‘Viotech’ renditions of the Air Max 90. The first, available at Foot District right now, sees the AM90 adopt a new premium suede and mesh multicolour upper, but with a few telltale nods harking back to the original design. The second release, coming soon to Foot District, mimics the OG colourway to perfection, right down to its namesake ‘Viotech’ hits.
In celebration of the upcoming ‘Viotech’ Air Max 90 release, Foot District teamed up with Spok Brillor, tasking the talented Spanish street artist to revive one of the Iberian Peninusla’s most rundown sites with an injection of colour. Brillor jumped at the opportunity to transform such an incredibly large canvas, with which he recreated the colourful AM90 in his signature style to the size of an Olympic-size swimming pool.
We connected with director Blas Egea to capture this master at work. Doing so was no easy task and a number of tricks and techniques, including drones and time-lapses, were required to capture the creation of this stunning work from start to finish. Check out the full editorial below.
