Nike has tapped into its rich history with the unveiling of the new Blue Ribbon SB, a skate shoe that takes inspiration from the classic Cortez sneaker. Nike SB plans to make the Blue Ribbon a staple in its lineup of skate shoes, and for good reason. The silhouette is simple and retro with a few modern touches. Two colorways have been announced: a black and white version and a cream, red, and blue which echoes the Cortez from 1972.
Suede paneling, a sawtooth overlay, and a chevron texture on the outsole add texture to this sneaker while the colorful details like the blue ribbon and red Nike swooshes and label pop. The all-black variant is more traditional but offers the same design elements in a functional and stylish sneaker.
No official release details have been announced but, since 2022 is the 50th anniversary of the Cortez sneaker, we’d expect Nike to build the hype soon.
