The days of simply using a classic colorway to describe sneakers are all but long gone. In these times, quick, relatable nicknames are easier to identify with, allowing a sneaker’s story to be told in a shortened way for a culture used to quickly receiving information. Nice Kicks continues to shed light on some of the most popular nicknames that have helped keep certain sneakers at the top of our collective minds. The stories behind a name usually have more depth than you may initially think, and we delve into those backstories in this week’s installment of Sneaker Nicknames Explained. Be sure to let us know which sneaker nicknames you would like to know the story behind next week.
Nike Air Penny V “Red Eagle”
Anfernee Hardaway’s fifth signature may have come after his playing days were over, but most of the colorways are inspired by his time on the court. With obvious “Orlando,” “Suns,” and “Memphis” releases, many wondered where the brightly colored “Red Eagle” makeup stemmed from. This nickname was in homage to Penny’s high school team, the Treadwell Eagles, in Memphis, Tennessee, who sport a red/white-black school color scheme.
