Nike SB Dunk Low ‘Medicom 2’ | Size 9

The second collaboration between Nike SB and MEDICOM TOY followed a similar design approach to the first. Released exclusively through the MEDICOM Japan website to members, the pair drew inspiration from another SB favorite—the 2002 Nike SB Dunk Low “Reese Forbes Denim.”

The Medicom 2 Dunk used selvedge denim in reference to the Forbes model; however, a darker wash and more controlled fraying along the edges provided it with a distinct look.

Jesse Leyva, who held the position of Senior Creative Director for Nike SB, was quoted saying, “Whenever we approached somebody to collaborate, we considered if it was going to stand the test of time. We asked ourselves, ‘Does the prospective partner have something that really speaks to a certain generation or a certain subculture that we can go back to?’ Medicom is just part of the fabric of Harajuku. When you look at Harajuku culture, there's streetwear. Then within streetwear, there's art, music, sneakers and toys. It all goes hand-in-hand.”

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.