Ever since Nike (quietly) revealed that people could customize the Dunk sneaker, which is arguably the most popular silhouette right now, I immediately knew I needed a pair to name mine. Little did I know, though, that trying to buy those damn shoes was going to be such a nightmare. Knowing that its “By You” Dunk Lows would be in high demand, Nike was unprepared for launch day, January 7: the site gave customers no error codes while trying to tinker with their designs, completely crashing and making their purchases do not let it complete.
But somehow, amid the virtual shopping chaos, I managed to get my hands on a pair for $ 110. That was largely due to having my Dunk design on Nike’s site days before launch saved, and the fact that I never gave up refreshing the checkout page, despite encountering an avalanche of error messages. After all that, it felt so good to take the win, especially since Nike decided to make Dunk sneakers (be it the SB or classics) extremely limited and hard to get. It’s such a shame that what used to be a shoe that used to hit the shelves at Kohl of Journey is now a hype phenomenon, but in the end, Nike doesn’t care about our feelings.
Nike is going to sell its coveted goods anyway, even if these kinds of drops are a total and utter mess, and even if the SNKRS app is still a disgrace and the biggest joke for the entire sneaker community.
Still, I am now delighted that my Dunk By You creation is here on my doorstep. As someone who grew up a skate / emo kid, Dunks was always one of my go-tos in the early 2000s, namely because they were cheaper than Air Jordans and because I always loved the way they looked after putting them together were beaten. Their aesthetic hasn’t changed since then, and although I usually wear high-top sneakers these days, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to put my own spin on the iconic Dunk silhouette.
As you can see, I went for a green, white, and red theme, which was my way of paying homage to the Mexican flag – the place I come from. To make it a little spicier – how would I make my Mexicans proud if I didn’t add spice to it something? – I chose a black Nike “Swoosh” logo just as a nod to my preference for black outfits. I also mixed leather materials (green and red) with suede (white and black), to give it a touch of subtle elegance.
Last but certainly not least, I appreciate that Nike let me choose a rubber bottom outsole. It reminds me of all the old school Dunks I used to have, and that design detail alone makes me love them so much more. I don’t have a name for them by the way, but I think something along the lines of the “Taco” Dunks would work, but that’s only because I love tacos as much as I love sneakers, nothing really has to do with the shoes apart from tacos that are a Mexican treasure.
The only thing I regret is that I couldn’t get a second pair so I would have an extra one in storage for when the hell I end up wearing these. I know, I know, I should be glad I got it a few since thousands of other people didn’t – and believe me, I am. I hope Nike does another round of By You Dunk Lows so that others have a chance. It just makes sense, but then again, I wouldn’t hold my breath.