We've seen plenty of Chinese New Year-inspired sneakers in our time, but for the first time ever, Nike will be celebrating China's Longtaitou Festival with the very special Nike Air Max Plus "Longtaitou Festival." An event that originates from the Tang and Song dynasties, the event arrives on the second day of the second month of the Lunar calendar. Known for its dragon dancing, good food, and vibrant pops of color, the American sportswear company has stuffed all of these traditional elements into one single shoe, and the result is actually pretty fascinating to say the least.
Taking on Sean McDowell's 1998 icon, the neoprene upper features a pastel gradient effect that fades from blue to white to pink, and is overlaid by a transparent cage. The Chinese color for luck hits the glossy Swoosh across the lateral and medial sidewalls, while the mudguard is crafted from rich brown leather. Underfoot, the TN Air Max unit arrives in a creamy hue that gives off a somewhat vintage vibe, and interestingly enough, the rope laces wrap around the entire shoe, tucking under the midsole and on top of the tongue. We're not entirely sure what this is meant to represent, but it's pretty cool nonetheless.
The Nike Air Max Plus Longtaitou Festival is set to release sometime in 2023 in men's sizes. Expected to drop at Nike, the SNKRS app, select stockists, retail is set at $185. Let us know if you'll be adding these to your rotation, and keep it locked to our Twitter andMobile App for the latest sneaker and streetwear news, releases, and raffles.
Nike Air Max Plus "Longtaitou Festival"
Images via Nike
