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Bob Kronbauer: This Vancouver-designed Nike sells for $5,000

The Wallenberg Dunk was designed here

Did you know that a Vancouver-designed Nike released in March of 2010 is still actively being bought and sold by collectors and resellers, and has gone for upwards of $5,400 on StockX?

It's true. I designed it.

While some people in Vancouver know me as the guy who started Vancouver Is Awesome in 2008, my career up until that point had mostly been as a graphic designer and creative director in the skateboard and streetwear industries.

In 2008, I had a contract with Nike 6.0 (a now-defunct division of the company), and that was when I pitched the design concept to some people I knew at an adjacent division - Nike SB.

They liked my concept for a Dunk Low colourway, assigned an actual shoe designer to finesse my idea and turn it into a limited release, then made it available for sale only at skateboard shops.

These days you can still find pairs of it available through the reselling market as the Dunk model is popular for collectors, regardless of the theme. It lately averages around $800 per sale, but rare sizes go for much more. A size 12 went for $5,463 in May of 2021.

My Dunk was called the Wallenberg Dunk, and it was an homage to a little palm tree at a spot that people skateboard at in San Francisco. Hypebeast published a story about it that's still in their archives if you'd like to learn more.

And what the heck is the purpose of this piece, you ask? This dude wants to brag about that time more than a decade ago when he did a thing?

No, dear reader. My intention is to bring something to life that you might want to put on your feet.

Nike announced that they're releasing a Montreal Bagel-themed Dunk this month, so I'm proposing a B.C.-themed Dunk, which I'd like to help bring to life.

I dug up a Wallenberg Dunk sample out of my storage and it has the words PROPERTY OF NIKE - NOT FOR RESALE on the inside of the heel. I've decided to hold it hostage for the greater good.

So, folks at Nike, let's work together on a B.C. Dunk. I'll give you back this sample (which you probably don't even want anymore, but c'mon, I needed an angle here) if we get together to talk about this.

We'll promote it on all 64 of our parent company Glacier Media's community news websites in Western Canada, widely sharing a yet-to-be-determined story about something awesome that's British Columbia-related.

Let's make a B.C. dunk happen!

@bcisawesome Let’s make a BC Dunk #bchistorywithbobk #nikesb #nike ♬ original sound - BC Is Awesome