Inspired by the iconic Wallenberg steps outside Raoul
Wallenberg Alternative School in San Francisco,
Nike SB previews its latest Dunk Low. Designer Bob
Kronbauer breaks down the significance of the design
as well as the color/textile choice references.
The Palm Tree at the foot of the 2nd step of the Big 4
at Raoul Wallenberg Alternative School in San Francisco
has played a supporting role in skateboarding since 1990.
My Nike SB Dunk Low colorway is inspired by this little
tree’s “Twenty Year Anniversary” in 2010/2011.
Throughout the mid 90’s the tree made in appearance
in most of the best skate videos of the era.
Dudes were getting tech using the bottom stair
as a low ledge and the second stair as a high ledge.
The tree grew. In the early 2000’s people started
hucking themselves down the 4, pulling tricks
that would have been impressive down the first
stair ten years earlier. Over the decade the tree
has grown larger, like the skating going on around it.
The colorway draws a palette from the palm tree
itself while utilizing hemp for the Swoosh.
The white midsole represents the step and
has a visible “waxed ledge” around the top
of it, just like that step at Wallenberg. Lastly,
the insoles each contain a pixelated image of
the palm tree itself, giving a nod to all of the
times it has appeared in skate videos over the years.
