The Cortez by Mister Cartoon pack is made up of three distinct silhouettes — white, black and navy blue — with elements hand drawn and designed by artist Mister Cartoon.
The white silhouette replaces the shoe’s traditional Swoosh with a custom Cortez graphic. On the back, Cartoon has implemented the “smile now, cry later” motifs.
The black silhouette reimagines the first two original Cortez shoes. It features a large and redesigned LA graphic on the side that incorporates the Swoosh. The words “Los Angeles” appear in Cartoon’s signature script on the back.
The navy blue silhouette features the iconic Nike Swoosh over an adjusted quilt stitch pattern inspired by the stitching of a classic car interior. A classic LA logo, created in Cartoon’s signature script lettering, appears on the back.
“These shoes represent what I grew up with in the streets of LA. I see the new kids embracing the Cortez because of its simplicity and classic history,” says Mister Cartoon. “I think a lot of people’s favorite is the navy-blue denim Cortez. The reason we did the diamond pattern is to represent the interiors in our lowriders.”
Each shoe features a metal emblem on the bottom lace that identifies the artist behind it, and a custom woven label on the tongue that depicts the 45-year anniversary of the Cortez.
The Nike Cortez by Mister Cartoon is available July 14 on Nike+, nike.com and at select retailers in the Los Angeles area.
