One of Nike’s most fabled sneakers could soon be returning, if a recent post from the brand’s official Instagram account is any indication.
Nike Sportswear teased today a rerelease of the “Wu-Tang” Nike Dunk High. Originally produced in 1999 as an exclusive for friends and family of the Wu-Tang Clan, the style has gone on to attain legendary status among sneaker collectors and hip-hop enthusiasts.
Specific details surrounding the original ’99 version are somewhat hazy; sneaker culture had yet to become a mainstream phenomenon, and the internet wasn’t equipped to document the latest drops. Some accounts of the ’99 iteration point to as few as 36 total pairs being produced — a nod to Wu-Tang Clan’s debut album, Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers). However, former Nike employee Drew Greer, who worked on the sneaker, in 2021 said that 100 pairs were actually made.
The sneaker itself is a redesign of an original Nike Dunk High from 1985. Part of the line’s original “Be True to Your School Series,” the black-and-yellow Dunk High colorway was created for the University of Iowa. Traditionally constructed from leather, the shoe is also nicknamed “Goldenrod” and has received various reworkings since its original ’85 release. Wu-Tang Clan’s rare version of the shoe features the group’s logo on the tongues and it’s also embroidered on the heel.
Due to its extremely limited nature, the original “Wu-Tang” Nike Dunk High rarely pops up on the aftermarket. A size 7.5 pair is currently available from Sotheby’s for $27,500.
The Nike Dunk High “Wu-Tang” has never been released to the public, but today’s Instagram post seems to hint at a forthcoming drop. Nike typically does not announce large collaboration projects such as this on Instagram, but the brand has recently been experimenting with ways to get ahead of leaked information with features like SNKRS Showcase.
According to leaker @zsneakerheadz, the Nike Dunk High “Wu-Tang” will finally be released during fall 2024. Retail pricing for the “Black/Pollen/White” colorway has not been confirmed.
