Nike Dunk High x Ambush

Nike has partnered with a Tokyo-based fashion label Ambush, to launch a range and partake a new look for the iconic Nike Dunks High. Yoon Ahn is the first woman designer to collaborate with Nike, and this collaboration highly speaks for her boldness and rigour. Erupting with flamboyant and vigorous energy, Yoon desired to create this collaborative collection bearing in mind the uniqueness she wanted the series to manifest. The Nike Ambush sneaker releases, until today, features unconventional colourways with traditional colour blocking and tonal colours while retaining the sharp detailing, silhouette, and back detailing with the inscription “Ambush” in block letters. 

The silhouette inspiration of this collaboration traces back to their first sneaker drop, Dunk High x AMBUSH that was inspired by the truck culture and moving objects like bikes and motorcycles. Sporting in the monochromatic colours black and white in leather, the sneakers had arrived with traditional colour blocking retaining the Dunk High silhouette with an aerodynamic kick. The rubberised swoosh extending beyond the heel, like tailpipes of bikes, and exaggerated sharp detailing elevates the appearance of elongated and heightened form. 

Stepping away from the traditional colour blocking, their second Nike Dunks drop, NIKE × AMBUSH COSMIC FUCHSIA, featured a vivid, all-pink colourway following the same silhouette and protruding construction as their first drop. Additionally, the swoosh also follows the same hue, although a slight contrast in the sneaker between the overlays and the base is noticeable when it is seen up close. A neon color on the backdrop accentuates the bold “AMBUSH” lettering printed over the inside of the sneakers. 

Reinstating the traditional colour blocking, Nike Ambush DUNK HIGH in Deep Royal Blue follows the sporty-street drive inspired by truck culture in the Dunks, like the last drops. Previously unveiled in crisp black and white and all-pink colourway, the deep royal blue draws influence from the Air Jordan 1 Retro High OG Royal Blue, even though the colourway hardly matches the original. 

Swinging between the traditional colour blocking and an all tonal hue a pattern is observed in the series in which the Nike Dunks colourways of Dunk High x AMBUSH are being released. We cannot say if this is an intentional pattern, but the Atomic Green colourway release does authenticate a guess for future releases. The Nike Ambush Atomic Green delivers radical energy with a tonal flash green sporting contrasting black rubberised Swoosh on either side, unlike the Cosmic Fuchsia that featured tonal swooshes. The sneaker retains the structure, extended swooshes, and exaggerated sharp details.