Nike’s SB Dunk Gets a Plaid-covered Collaboration With Beloved Journalist Nardwuar

When news of a collaboration between legendary Canadian interviewer Nardwuar the Human Serviette (Nardwuar for short) and Nike SB first emerged in May, there wasn’t much question over whether a plaid pattern would be featured on the shoe or not, but rather which colors — and how much of it? Now, thanks to an early in-hand look shared by @sneaker_sample, we’re learning that the answer to the latter question is “a whole shoe’s worth.”

The Nardwuar x Nike SB Dunk Low drapes the low-top version of Nike’s fan-favorite skateboarding shoe in the journalist’s go-to garb. The shoe’s outfitted in a tartan plaid pattern which mixes red, navy blue, yellow, green and white for a look that lines up with Nardwuar’s signature pants and tam o’ shanter cap. Leaving no detail unturned, the shoe’s laces are affixed with a removable red-and-navy blue pom pom which references the adornment atop of his hats.

A look at the collaboration’s various angles reveal even more details tied back to the quirky journalist, whose birth name is John Andrew Vernon Ruskin. His closing catchphrase (“doot doola doot doo…doot doo!”) is spelled out between the outsole and the heel tab. And inside on the shoe’s insole, his smiling face is printed alongside Nardwuar the Human Serviette branding.

Best known for his in-depth interviews with musicians ranging from Nirvana to Tyler, the Creator, Nardwuar is also an accomplished musician and founded the band The Evaporators in 1986.

The appeal of the Nardwuar x Nike SB Dunk Low is two-fold. It taps into Nike SB’s tradition of unexpected partnerships while also delivering a bold, polarizing look that only the brand’s skateboarding division could pull off properly. It’s the sort of sneaker that brings back memories of Nike SB’s heyday, one which was filled with both official and unofficial collaborations across colorful footwear.

The Nardwuar x Nike SB Dunk Low is expected to be released this holiday season for $140. The sneaker has a full colorway of University Red/Black/Yellow Strike/Deep Royal Blue and its style code is II1493-600.