Nike Lebron x James Elliott Icon

This sleek collaboration between designer John Elliott and Lebron James was originally inspired by the moment Lebron walks into a game. The design is intended to maximize both comfort and confidence, and is therefore meant to be both a top athletic shoe as well as a highly fashionable one. To meet this end, the icon takes the Air technology of the Lebron 8 and combines it with a translucent upper with linear embroidering. The pattern on the upper has two symbolic meanings – on the one hand, the lines are meant to echo the lines in a basketball court. On the other, Elliott chose the metaphor of a spillway to speak to the force and power of Lebron’s athletic performance. A spillway is the part of a dam that controls and powerfully disperses water, and so the flowing lines on the upper are also designed to make the viewer think of powerful running water. This running water effect is achieved by stacking several layers of translucent material across the upper, which gives the upper a unique texture as well as look. While designing the shoe, Lebron also suggested that a unique sock be designed to fit the feel and look of this appropriately named iconic silhouette. The sole is made with full-length Air tooling that provides both support and flexibility to the foot, and is the primary technology that allows this shoe to be fully functional on the court as well as a fashion-forward lifestyle shoe. 

Released in a few different colorways, most notably black and white, the next colorway for the Lebron x JE Icon is scheduled for the first week of October. Still undeniably classy, this new colorway is a softer “parachute beige” than the more dramatic monochrome colorways that have been released previously. Priced at $250 on the Nike store, this shoe (in any color) is definitely one of the sleekest athletic shoes out there on the market.

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