A Presidential Pair: Exclusive Nike Hyperdunk sneakers, designed exclusively for Barack Obama in … [+]
Barack Obama is officially a statesman of sneaker culture, as a pair of kicks made in his honor will hit the market for a five-figure sum.
Nike designed the shoes exclusively for the former president and gifted it to him in 2009. The archival pair of size 12.5 President Obama Player Nike Exclusive Hyperdunks will now go on sale on Sotheby’s new “Buy Now” e-commerce platform for $25,000 on February 12, at 4:44 pm eastern.
A high-top silhouette made for the nation’s highest-ranking official.
This pair of Nike Hyperdunks is one of only two pairs ever created. Obama never slipped into the sneaks that will sell on Sotheby’s, but Nike has been holding onto this pair as the only official sample, and as a result, is in flawless condition.
The custom-designed model boasts exclusive features. Patriotic symbols adorn the high-top silhouettes, which are white with blue Nike swooshes and red accents. The most notable detail is the presidential seal visible on the mesh tongue of each shoe.
For Obama, Nike shifts its tongue designs from Pumps to Presidential Seals.
The artwork on the insoles, meanwhile, dons an eagle with the number 1776, marking the American Revolution. This design stems from the “United We Rise” Nike Hyperdunk, crafted for the U.S.A. Olympic basketball team during the Beijing Olympics in 2008.
The medial toe displays the number 44 in blue with red outline stitching for Obama’s 44th presidency. To add to the presidential hype, the signature embroidered 44 is likely the reason why Sotheby’s has scheduled the sale of these exclusive sneaks for 4:44 pm eastern on February 12.
Sotheby’s sales launch at 4:44pm est may be a nod to Obama being the 44th president of the U.S.
Long before stepping foot on Capitol Hill, Obama enjoyed stepping onto the courts. He played junior varsity and varsity basketball for his high school team, Hawaii’s Punahou School, winning the 1979 state championship.
Obama continued to play basketball during his presidency, even receiving injuries during a pick-up game. In 2009, the same year he was gifted the Nike sneakers, the White House tennis court pavilion was transformed into a makeshift basketball court for Obama.
President Obama’s well-known love for the game inspired Nike to create the custom Hyperdunks.
These Hyperdunk sneakers are certified basketball shoes and were designed exclusively for Obama to hoop in. Nike has enjoyed a connection with Obama throughout his presidency and beyond. Just last year, the company donated $5 million to the Obama Foundation, which will support the creation of more public space at the planned Presidential Center on the south side of Chicago. The center was designed to promote more physical activity and sports in the community.
While the price tag for this pair of Obama-inspired footwear is nowhere near Michael Jordan’s record-breaking shoes at auction (a pair of Air Jordan 1s sold for $615,000 at Christie’s last year) these Obama Hyperdunks will still be a great addition to any sneakerhead’s collection. Thank Sotheby’s for making this a sale instead of an auction—because this historic pair will certainly deliver hot returns in the global sneaker resale market.
— to www.forbes.com