On June 22, Nike SB and New York-based chef David Chang will launch the Nike SB Dunk High Pro “Momofuku.” The shoe, which is dressed in a dark denim reminiscent of Momofuku’s aprons, is the result of a long-standing relationship between members of the skate community, the Nike SB team and the Momofuku restaurants.
Chang fell in love with Nike in ’87. According to the chef, the first visible Air: “Was one of the coolest things I’d ever seen.” He has since remained loyal to the brand through the years and is excited to partner with Nike SB.
Opening his first restaurant – Momofuku Noodle Bar in the East Village — allowed Chang to meet figures in the skate scene and see parallels between skate and food culture. Those commonalities are reflected in Momofuku’s approach to kitchen dress. Straying from the typical whites and blues associated with French haute cuisine, Chang’s chefs wear dark gray — it’s a detail which informs the base of the Nike SB Dunk High Pro “Momofuku.” “We wanted it to suggest an apron, basically.”
The numbers “163” and “207” mark the sock liners, noting the addresses of David’s Fuku and Ssäm Bar restaurants in NYC, respectively. “Both addresses hold so much meaning for Momofuku: Noodle Bar and Ssäm Bar established our DNA. 163 First Avenue has served as our spiritual home since 2004 as the original location of Noodle Bar, then Ko, and now Fuku. It continues to be a place where we try out new ideas. We also wouldn’t be where we are today without the lessons we’ve learned at Ssäm Bar, which this summer celebrates its 11th anniversary.”
The Momofuku logo, a peach, appears on the shoe’s heel. This too is a rarity, as this marks the first time that Chang has collaborated with any partner on branded merchandise.
“I don’t want to throw our logo on, like, a T-shirt,”
he notes. “This one feels like it counts.”
Each June in NYC, Chang has partnered with Nike SB to provide skaters with nourishment on Go Skateboarding Day. This year, skaters at Coleman Skate Park in NYC will break for lunch with Fuku’s spicy fried chicken sandwiches. On June 22 a limited number of Nike SB Dunk High Pro “Momofuku” will be available at Fuku (163 First Avenue, New York, NY 10003) starting at 10 a.m., and, from June 23, the shoe will be available at select Nike retailers.
For more information, go to Nike.
