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On the heels of 2020’s three-sneaker SB Dunk Low collection, Nike’s psychedelic link-up with the Grateful Dead continues this month and this time, it’s bringing some new partners to the fold. The University of Oregon’s deep ties to both the Grateful Dead and Nike are highlighted with a new Grateful Ducks collaboration in partnership with collegiate lifestyle brand Class Trip.
Centered around the retro Air Max 90 model, the new collaboration also includes a wide range of co-branded apparel which will extend to the Oregon Ducks football team’s on-field jerseys.
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The collection’s Grateful Dead x Nike Air Max 90 picks up where the SB Dunk Lows left off, making use of a lightning bolt-styled Swoosh logo in a fuzzy chenille material. The rest of the shoe opts for a fully new look, mixing a white-based upper with a tie-dyed mudguard, Oregon-appropriate yellow and green accents and multicolored contrast stitching throughout the upper.
At the heel, the Air Max 90’s usual rubberized badge is replaced with a Grateful Dead Stealie logo, which is also colorized in Ducks green and yellow. The shoes come packaged with a hangtag depicting the Ducks mascot in the band’s famous “Dancing Bears” formation.
While the aforementioned SB Dunk Low lacked a specific through line to the band, there’s a close connection with the Air Max 90. The Grateful Dead’s late co-founder, Jerry Garcia, was often seen wearing and performing in the model’s classic Infrared colorway following its release in 1990. More explicitly, Nike says the style is inspired by the band’s Autzen Stadium shows in June ’90.
On the apparel side, the Ducks, Dead and Swoosh combine their iconography on varsity jackets, bomber jackets, hoodies, sweatpants, T-shirts and headwear.
And Saturday at Autzen Stadium, the Ducks will take the field in tie-dye gear to meet the University of Wisconsin. Fans in attendance are encouraged to participate in the team’s first-ever “Tie-Dye Out.”
The Grateful Dead x University of Oregon x Class Trip x Nike Grateful Ducks collection will begin releasing Tuesday from dead.net followed by a classtrip.co launch on Thursday. A wider release will take place Friday from Nike’s Snkrs app, Fanatics and select U.S. retail partners.
Pricing for the full collection has not been confirmed, but the Sail/Green Shock/Yellow Strike Air Max 90 will retail for $145 with a style code of IM2511-100.
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