Nike

In 2004, Nike’s Midwest Representative, Rob Sissi, designed the Nike SB Dunk Low Pro 'Loon' as an homage to the majestic state bird of Minnesota. The large, aquatic bird has white speckles on its back feathers, as well as green shades throughout. Sissi translated this perfectly onto the Nike Dunk Low silhouette, using a white base, green Swoosh and green outsole. The panels atop the white leather are black with white speckles, truly mimicking the body of the Loon. 

The pair, which remained a limited sample for many years, was finally released to the public in 2009 in very limited quantities. Samples are sneakers made by the manufacturer either for promotional purposes or for testing various aspects of a design. They are far rarer than the general release pairs, making this a great find for collectors. 

The Nike SB Dunk made its formal debut in 2002, when Nike officially reworked the famed Dunk basketball sneaker originally designed in the 1980s with upgrades suited for the skateboarding community. The man behind it, former Nike executive Sandy Bodecker, is credited with building one of Nike’s most beloved subdivisions in the early 2000s with the Nike SB line.