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CLOT has become an influential player in the global sneaker scene. This is, in part, due to exciting collaborations with some of the most prominent brands in the industry, particularly its partnership with Nike.
CLOT was founded in 2003 by actor and musician Edison Chen and entrepreneur Kevin Poon. The Hong Kong-based streetwear label has consistently celebrated Eastern culture through clothing, accessories, and collaborations. CLOT has continuously pushed the envelope with its innovative designs and firmly cemented its identity in the streetwear industry as a brand that cares deeply about its product's message and meaning.
Only three years into the existence of CLOT, the label landed a collaboration with Nike on the Air Max 1. Nicknamed the “Kiss of Death” (KOD), the sneaker incorporates Chinese traditional medicine and acupuncture elements into the shoe. A custom insole highlights pressure points of the foot, and the toebox is transparent to give a clear view of the wearer’s feet.
We would see even more East-meets-West sensibilities with releases including silk-covered AF1s, the Zoom Haven pack, and multiple three-way collaborations with labels such as fragment designs and sacai. All of these and more showcase how Chen and his brand have consistently elevated sneakers through material choices and color palettes. Beginning in 2018, CLOT started to team up with Jordan Brand, which is, of course, under the Nike umbrella. CLOT took on the AJ13 Low for its first project and has since covered models including the Air Jordan 1 Mid, Air Jordan 35, and Air Jordan 5 Low.
The influence of the CLOT x Nike partnership extends beyond the two’s product releases. The collaboration has helped CLOT gain global recognition. Incorporating elements of Eastern culture into its designs, CLOT has also fostered a greater appreciation for cultural diversity within the community and has showcased Chinese culture for a Western audience.
Below, we take you through every sneaker collaboration made by CLOT and Nike.
Images via GOAT
CLOT x Nike Air Max 1 Premium “Kiss of Death” - 2006 & 2021
The collaboration that started it all. Chen took inspiration from acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine to create a partially transparent Air Max 1. Notable details include the pressure point graphic on the insole and a human foot design on the outsole. Over a decade removed from its original release, CLOT and Nike retroed the pair in 2001 with full-family sizing.
CLOT x Nike Air Zoom Dunkesto - 2007
To commemorate the opening of CLOT’s Shanghai sneaker boutique ACU, Nike gave the burgeoning label an opportunity to collaborate on the hybrid Dunkesto. This sneaker borrows elements from the Presto, including the plastic overlay and branding window, while retaining the general shape of a Dunk. For its color scheme, the sneaker features grey and tan shades on the front half with vibrant hits of red, yellow, and green on the year. All of this comes complete with brown midsole and gum outsole.
CLOT x Nike Air Force 1 Low “1World” - 2009
With silk connecting Eastern and Western cultures through centuries of trade, it was fitting for CLOT to bring the material to the iconic Air Force 1. This rendition sees the outermost red layer peel away to reveal brown leather below. The Air unit in the heel is visible, unlike your standard AF1. A version with a special box was also made and features a Chinese candy box design and extra accessories.
CLOT x Nike Tennis Classic AC - 2012
Chen tackled the vintage Nike Tennis Classic in 2012 and kept things relatively simple. Unlike other projects with The Swoosh, there isn’t an overarching theme or East-meets-West motif. Instead, the sneaker receives a grey suede upper with vibrant red accents and co-branded details. One of the more forgotten CLOT x Nike collabs as the silhouette isn't well-liked by the average sneakerhead, but it's high-quality build makes its a staple piece if you own a pair.
CLOT x Nike Tennis Classic AC TZ “Museum Edition” - March 2012
Just a month after the suede version of the CLOT x Nike Tennis Classic released, an exclusive version was released at Juice Store Hong Kong. The upper features a metallic silver palette. Employees at the storefront distressed each pair by hand before selling the sneakers to the public. Considering this pair had just one in-store release, finding a pair today is extremely difficult.
CLOT x Nike Air Max 1 Kiss of Death 2 - 2013
Seven years removed from its first Nike collaboration, CLOT returned to the Kiss of Death theme with a more neutral take on the Air Max 1. Unlike the original pair, this sneaker features lightweight, transparent mesh, Hyperfuse overlays, and a silver, blue, and green palette. Carrying over from the original are the human foot motif on the insole and translucent outsole, as well as the intricate heel embroidery.
CLOT x Nike Lunar Force 1 Low - 2015
Honoring CLOT’s 10th anniversary, Nike and the Hong Kong-based label returned to the AF1. This time, instead of adding luxury materials to a standard pair, a clean colorway of the ultra-comfy Lunar Force 1 was created. Mismatched jewel Swoosh logos, split branding on the tongue tag, and a celebratory 10th-anniversary logo on the heel help set this pair apart from the usual Lunar Force 1. The sneaker retains its Lunarlon cushioning system, a significant comfort advancement for the footwear industry at the time.
CLOT x Nike Air VaporMax Bright Crimson - 2017
Nike celebrated the 30th anniversary of its Air Max tech in 2017. That year, it also introduced the VaporMax and allowed CLOT to bring a bright red rendition to shelves. Aside from the CLOT branding on the tongue tag and left heel, no major changes are present. The sneaker still retains its Flyknit upper and bulky Air sole unit, both of which come covered in the "Bright Crimson" shade. Black accents pop along the lacing system, tongue tag, and portions of the knit along them midfoot.
CLOT x Nike Air Force 1 Low White Silk - 2018
In a nod back to the first AF1 release between CLOT and Nike, Chen brought back the silk motif for Nike’s AF100 series. This series celebrated white-on-white colorways of the Air Force 1 with Chen's iteration once again peeling away to reveal a hidden layer below. For this pair, we see golden leather feature debossed patterns that mimic those found on the silk layer above.
CLOT x Jordan 13 Low Pack - December 2018
For the brand’s first foray into Michael Jordan’s signature sneakers, CLOT looked to terracotta warriors for one of its Air Jordan 13 Low colorways. Alongside this pair, a more traditional construction is present for the “Black Infrared 23” pair. Both sneakers contain co-branded logos on the tongue and insole while retaining Jumpman branding. For the terracotta-inspired colorway, we see golden accents take over branding details and the midfoot overlay coming in a clay-like finish.
CLOT x Nike Zoom Haven Pack - May 2019
Another hybrid silhouette for CLOT, the Nike Zoom Haven 97 combines the cross trainer Zoom Haven with the sole unit of the legendary Air Max 97. For this collection, CLOT crafted three colorways, “White Sail,” “Volt Pure Platinum,” and “White Deep Royal Blue.” All three flew under the radar when they hit shelves in 2019 and to this day can be found for relatively cheap on the aftermarket.
CLOT x Nike Air Force 1 Low Blue Silk - November 2019
Once again revisiting the Air Force 1, CLOT brought a blue color scheme to the silk-covered sneaker. Like previous pairs, the silk is removable to reveal a layer below, with this colorway getting a grey finish beneath. Alongside this pair, a three-waycollaboration with fragment on a "Black Silk" colorway was released. Both sneakers also were sold in a pack containing matching BE@ARBRICKs.
CLOT x fragment design x Nike Air Force 1 Low Black Silk - November 2019
Hiroshi Fujiwara and Chen teamed up with The Swoosh to bring a second colorway of the silk-covered AF1 to shelves in 2019. This pair retains the dual-layered upper with the top coming in black. Below, a red leather features the same intricate pattern. This pair also serves partially as the inspiration for the latest collaboration between fragment design, Nike, and CLOT. Like the "Blue Silk" colorway, this pair also was available in a pack with an accompanying BE@RBRICK.
CLOT x Air Jordan 1 Mid SE - December 2019
Jordan Brand’s “Fearless” collection from 2019 contained a collaboration with CLOT on the Air Jordan 1 Mid SE. This rendition of the AJ1 Mid features a white silk-covered upper that gives way to a black and gold base layer. Added to the mix is Chinese coin lace dubrae. The Swoosh, laces, and tongue tongue provide accenting, as does a red outsole.
CLOT x Air Force 1 Low Rose Gold Silk - January 2020
Another silk-covered AF1 from CLOT, the “Rose Gold” colorway follows its predecessors with a tear-away upper revealing a leather base below. This is, as of this writing, the final entry into the CLOT x Air Force 1 Low series. In the marketing for the release, CLOT employed actor Donnie Yen for a photoshoot using the sneakers in a tai chi routine. As Juice Store said, "These shoes aim to let the world know that beauty can be found internally and externally"
CLOT x Air Jordan 35 - February 2021
CLOT’s take on the Air Jordan 35 drew inspiration from jade jewelry. While retaining the high-tech performance-ready construction, this Jordan 35 sees premium suede, mesh, and TPU combined with CLOT branding and jade-colored accents. A solid combination that can handle on-court while also being flashy enough for rocking in the streets
CLOT x Air Jordan 14 Low - February 2021
Borrowing design elements and inspiration from the first CLOT x Jordan Brand collab, the duo's Air Jordan 14 Low also invokes the armor and color from terracotta warriors. Mismatched branding details mimicking a scroll, a red Chinese knot on the heel, and a coin threaded through this knot aid Chen’s mission of bringing Eastern influence to the West.
CLOT x Nike Air Max 1 “Kiss of Death CHA” - May 2021
Alongside the return of the original “Kiss of Death” Air Max 1, new colorways utilizing clear plastic construction launched in 2021. This earth-tone pair features a suede construction for its overlays, with red leather and embroidery accents on the Swoosh and heel. As seen on other KOD pairs, the human foot graphic remains on the insole and transparent outsole.
CLOT x Nike Air Max 1 “Kiss of Death Solar Red” - July 2021
In 2007, Chen and CLOT teamed up with Nike to create an ultra-exclusive colorway of the Air Max 1. One of the four pairs in existence was given to Ye, then known as Kanye West, in honor of his “Touch the Sky” tour. Drawing inspiration from this pair, a wider release with some slight design tweaks was made available in 2021 exclusively through Juice Store.
CLOT x sacai x Nike LD Waffle “Kiss of Death” - September 2021
sacai’s Nike LD Waffle saw various third parties join the mix, and CLOT brought its infamous Kiss of Death colorway to the silhouette. Like the original KOD colorway, transparent panels appear on the toe and midfoot of this collaboration. With its mixture of vintage and contemporary design, the LD Waffle was a solid choice to bring forth another KOD colorway.
CLOT x sacai x Nike LD Waffle “Cool Grey” - October 2021
The CLOT x sacai x Nike LD Waffle “Cool Grey” sees the model swap out the transparent plastic for a semi-transparent mesh upper. A neutral color scheme is broken up with small hits of green. With the first CLOT x sacai x Nike LD Waffle colorway taking after the original KOD, this colorway is strikingly similar to the second KOD colorway.
CLOT x Nike Dunk High “Metallic Silver” - March 2022
Chen took inspiration from the Yin-Yang philosophy for this Nike Dunk High “Flux,” featuring an all-over lenticular material that makes the upper appear like liquid metal. This lenticular print also allows both labels' logos to appear on the tongue tag. Pairs were readily available, and to this day the average price on StockX is still under retail.
CLOT x Air Jordan 5 Low - May 2022
MJ’s fifth signature sneaker receives an all-black textile upper featuring a satin sheen. Jade accents appear on the lace lock, eyelet beads, and outsole while contrasting with the vibrant red of the laces and sockliner. Chinese characters also appear on the lateral heel and pay tribute to the “23” embroidery often found on the AJ5.
CLOT x Jordan Delta 2 SP “Flint” - September 2022
Though the Jordan Delta 2 is not widely loved by sneakerheads, Chen brought elements from his favorite Jordan, the Air Jordan 13 Flint, into the performance model. We see the 3M overlay from the AJ13 on the midfoot and toebox while the same grey suede and blue hues from the retro model are present in the design. A fitting tribute to Chen's favorite Air Jordan on a more modern silhouette.
CLOT x Nike Cortez Pack - Spring 2023
One of Nike’s most iconic silhouettes, the Nike Cortez received a makeover from CLOT in three colorways (“White Game Royal,” “Black Varsity Maize,” and “Black White”) to kick off 2023. The silhouette gets a two-piece construction, including an outer shroud featuring a collapsible heel and a deconstructed leather shell for multiple ways to wear. Yin-Yang symbols grace the design, and the tongue contains split branding between Nike and CLOT.
CLOT x fragment design x Nike Dunk Low - June 2023
Taking the multi-layered silk design motif to a new silhouette, CLOT and fragment design covered the Dunk Low in a white satin material. Split branding between CLOT and fragment appears on the heel, while all three logos sit below the silk top layer. Black hits on the tongue, laces, eyestays, and sockliner help break up the monochromatic look of the satin panels.
CLOT x Nike Dunk Low Pack - June 2023
Following up on their three-way collab with fragment design, CLOT and Nike will together create two new colorways of the Dunk Low. Though there are no images of the "Multi-Color" pair, the "Flax" pair was showcased by Edison Chen himself. The silhouette features an all-cork upper, nods to CLOT's 20th anniversary on the heel, and logos for the label on the medial heel overlay. Removeable Swoosh logos are also part of the design, seen so far with a snakeskin and a vibrant blue logo. More images and details should emerge regarding the two-pack in the coming weeks.
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In this article
Sneakerhead from South Florida who turned his passion into a career. Concerts, music, trying new restaurants, and catching the latest movies are some of the things I enjoy when not writing for Sole Retriever. Email: nick@soleretriever.com
