Nike has announced that their latest Nike X Off-White collaboration will be launching October 1, in the iteration of the Nike x Off-White Rubber Dunk skate shoe.

The latest sneaker is said to merge elements of the Nike Pegasus line with the Nike Dunk, to honour Nike’s legacy in technical innovation and also nods to skate boarding’s history of experimentation. Upon first look, it is a modern take on a classic silhouette and idea, referencing the present-day. “Highlighting the Air is part of the early logic of the collaboration,” proclaims Virgil Abloh on the new design. “The shoe is about incorporating past ideas in a new era — designing with purpose and cultural relevance to come up with something new.” he says.

The shoe is presented in three different colourways: gold, white, and black. "A black sneaker is my go-to for everyday life." Abloh says of the latter. The gold iteration is the clear hero within the offering, with the upper design clearly considering late ’90s and early 2000s technical runners. The shoe features criss-cross gold details which are layered with signature Off-White copy and classic Nike branding. Attached along the upper laces is an orange zip tie, another nod to the Off-White brand and a consistent feature throughout Nike X Off-White's collaboration.

As for the sole, an exposed Airbag in the heel speaks to Nike's signature air design.  The Air unit sits in a flexible, cored-out sole, itself a testament to technical innovation, and clearly an important design element to incorporate, according to Abloh, “It’s safe to say one of the greatest inventions in modern footwear is Nike's approach to the idea of Air, and adding it as a cushioning element,” he says.

The latest Nike X Off-White collaboration fits, as always, into the gaps between sportswear, streetwear, and fashion. It speaks of subtlety and restraint while whispering luxury and innovation and acknowledging that those who 'know', know.

The Nike x Off-White Rubber Dunk in the University Gold and Black colourway be available in Australia from 1 October at Supply.