The Nike SB Dunk Low ‘BHM’ Pays Homage to Black Cowboys

Hold the phone – who said were falling off? While the skate division may have dialled back the flood of releases from its peak years, Nike SB have clearly retained its storytelling edge. The latest ‘BHM’ Dunk Low is a testament to this, paying tribute to the legacy of Black cowboys.

Although Nike has yet to confirm the official inspiration behind the design, the ‘BHM’ model appears to honour Black cowboys – an often overlooked and underrepresented group in Western history and media. Composed in ‘Tourmaline’ green suede uppers and ‘Monarch’ orange piping, the first detail you’ll notice is the Sonora-style embroidery along the heel, an intricate decorative stitching inspired by traditional designs commonly associated with the Sonoran region of Mexico and the Southwestern United States. The Nike branding on the heels continues the theme, stylised by a single rope – a reference to the lassoes used by cowboys to wrangle bulls. Even the laces incorporate this rope-like motif, reinforcing the Western aesthetic. Sneakerheads always love a little something extra and Nike SB consistently deliver. This time, the added bonus is a yellow handkerchief adorned with an illustration of a mounted cowboy leaping over a fence. The handkerchief features the phrase, ‘What’s gonna happen is gonna happen’, embodying the resilience of frontier life.

The Nike SB Dunk Low ‘BHM’ is expected to arrive for Black History Month this year for $135.

Can’t get enough of Nike SB? Make sure to check out our complete of Nike SB Boxes and Eras!