Nike launched the Nike Plattenbau Dunk on December 14 - an exclusive release just in Berlin and exclusively together with Overkill, one of Berlin’s OG sneaker store on December 14.
As the name of the Nike Plattenbau Dunk suggests, the driving inspiration behind the project is the prefabricated concrete structures, known as Plattenbau, that line Berlin and much of east Germany’s city streets.
Often associated with the lower socioeconomic class and looked down upon, this style of architecture is highly misunderstood and still has plenty of fans. One of those fans is Marc from Overkill, who grew up in a “Platte” himself, making this a project close to his heart.
The Nike Plattenbau Dunk was exclusively released by Overkill. Being such a special launch , attention to detail was at the forefront of the project. The shoe itself is immaculately designed, dressed completely in a light gray upper save for a few hints of gold.
A gold D85 on the left heel marks the introductory year of the Dunk, while the D17 on the right signals the Plattenbau Dunk 2017. Strictly limited to 240 pairs worldwide, an OG sneaker collector’s dream, each pair is individually numbered on one tongue of each respective shoe.
Laser etches on the upper replicate the connecting points of large concrete slabs while the blue and gold lace tips bear the words “Traum” and “Tristesse” — two elements that can only ever exist together in a Berlin Plattenbau.
To further celebrate the culture that has emerged from the apartments within a Plattenbau, Overkill and Nike enlisted the help of five upcoming Berlin talents, all of which have a personal connection to the housing unit, to tell the story of the Plattenbau Dunk.
Together with the protagonists and a few more invited guests, Nike hosted a dinner in a Plattenbau apartment, inviting a select few to pick up their pairs early. The two-Michelin starred chef, Berliner, and devoted Nike head himself, Tim Raue, served up the incredible food, further dispelling the myth that there’s no luxury to be found within the walls of a Plattenbau.
When it finally came time for the release, sneakerheads were invited to participate in an in-store raffle at Overkill in Berlin. The chosen few were then invited to pick up keys to the very same apartment at the beginning of the following week.
Keys in hand, the raffle winners made their way to the Plattenbau in the middle of Berlin to secure themselves a pair, all the while greeted by an overall-wearing Marc, who was playing the role of a typical Plattenbau superintendent.
The whole project was an authentic, hyper local moment for Berlin’s sneakerhead community. Plus the dinner, the highly limited release, the exclusive, personal experience, as well as the individually numbered, gorgeously designed shoe itself meant Nike nailed it. This is what true sneakerhead culture is about. More of this please.
Next, read our interview with Tim Raue. Meanwhile, Nike is releasing the AM97 with a VaporMax sole.
