Li-Ning has captured a large following in the basketball space, having signature athlete Dwyane Wade lead the Chinese brand’s run to stardom. With plans to diversify their offerings, Li-Ning is partnering with skate phenom Erik Ellington to debut their first ever skate sneaker.
Erik Ellington’s first signature sneaker combines contemporary aesthetics with skate performance. The bold design draws inspiration from the styles Ellington wore throughout childhood, which involved select vintage basketball and running silhouettes. Signature to the Li-Ning way, the sneaker is produced with premium materials and technology, including the brand’s “BOOM” midsole technology.
“The tongue flap is an homage to the double tongues we used to rock on our shoes in the mid-90s”, Ellington explains. “With this design, we explored new material combinations that have never made their way into a skate shoe before, like the ripstop toe-cage and sealed double tongue flap.”
Erik Ellington on the Design Aspect of his First Signature Sneaker
The Erik Ellington x Li-Ning Collaboration will be available in three initial colorways: Astro Pop, Polar Night and Tropicana. Look for the sneakers and full apparel set to debut through US retailers KCDC, Andrew Downtown, Black Sheep, Kingswell and Humidity from July 22nd, as well as globally through SSENSE and Luisa Via Roma from July 30th, 2021.
Erik Ellington x Li-Ning Collaboration
Release Date: July 22, 2021 (USA), July 30, 2021 (Global)
Price:TBA
