The Nike Dunk and Air Huarache Are Back in Fashion, Could the Roshe Run Be Next?

Picture this - it’s 2012 and you’re getting ready to head out on a warm summer’s day, you’ve got Tyler the Creator - Yonkers playing in the background as you try and decide which pair of Nike Roshe Runs you’re going to match with your pin-rolled jeans. Those were the days right? If you’re old enough to remember just how cool the Roshe once was, we’re pretty sure it might have crossed your mind recently that the model may be set to make a comeback.

You’ve only got to look at the latest sneaker trends to see a pattern starting to form, with this pattern in-fact being Nike’s genius marketing strategy. The Nike Air Huarache for example was one of the most popular sneakers (alongside the Roshe) throughout the early 2010s. The silhouette eventually peaked (as described in our definitive Huarache guide), and became extremely uncool very soon after.

For years after the Huarache's high-point it was simply forgotten - no new models were produced and those who had pairs kicked them to the back of their closets in favour of modern silhouettes such as the Air VaporMax. But, lo and behold, 2021 has seen the Nike Air Huarache make an enormous resurgence. We’ve seen collaborations with Stussy, hugely-popular retro releases and even brand-new GR pairs.

Another fine example of this occurrence is the current Dunk hype. Nike Dunks are without a shadow of a doubt one of the most popular sneakers on the market right now. Even those who aren’t into sneakers right now are after Dunks, I’ve had my sister, cousins and even old school friends contact me asking how they can get their hands on Dunks - the hype is immeasurable. But not too long ago Dunks were outlet fodder, and if you weren’t a serious Nike SB-head wearing Dunks would make you somewhat of a laughing stock.

Like most fashion, the sneaker scene is constantly evolving, but the classics will always come back at some point or another, there’s no denying good designs. The thing that stands out to us about the Roshe Run is that it is exactly that - well designed. There’s no crazy gimmicks or time sensitive features when it comes to the Roshe, it’s an extremely simple and aesthetically-pleasing sneaker.

In fact, minimalist design is what inspired the Roshe when Nike employee Dylan Raasch first imagined the concept before the OG eventually released in 2012. According to reports he was fed-up with over complicated sneakers and wanted a simple everyday pair that would tick all the boxes. So, inspired by Buddhist temples and their gardens, he created what would become the Roshe Run - a simple sneaker with a one-piece outsole and a two-piece upper.

Priced well below most other lifestyle sneakers in it’s category, the Nike Roshe Run was an instant hit with both sneakerheads and the general public within a few months. Plenty of colourways hit the market over the first few months and they also didn’t hang around. Interestingly enough, the Roshe Run was launched without any accompanying marketing campaign from Nike, it was an organic success. This rare occurrence once again proves just how well-designed the pair was, whether it was knowingly or not, Raasch had created a shoe for the people.

Plenty of high-heat colourways launched over the next couple of years including a fragment design collaboration, an unofficial “Yeezy” colourway, and even a crazy-looking tie dye pair. Along with the OG silhouette, different variations of Roshe launched including the Roshe LD 1000 (which borrowed the upper from the legendary running sneaker) and the winterised Roshe Run Hi Sneakerboot. The Roshe Run phenomenon was in full-swing, but little did we know it was about to come crashing down.

Seemingly no sooner than it had arrived, the Nike Roshe Run quite quickly became very heavily saturated. GR colourways lined the shelves of pretty much every sneaker store and you only had to walk half a mile down the road to spot at least ten pairs. What was once a low-key sneakerhead silhouette had hit the mainstream, with the tastemakers quickly shifting their pairs online or tucking them away in a dark corner somewhere.

In the years that followed Nike totally halted production on the Roshe Run, with the last production pair we can find dated as 2017. Now the scene has had time to cool off, could it potentially be time for the Nike Roshe Run to return to the market? We absolutely think so. With the right colourways, campaign and collaborations we truly believe that the silhouette could absolutely pop off once again, and to be honest we’re totally here for it - bring back the Roshe!