Nike x Stranger Things Take Your Kicks Back to Summer 1985
“We [Nike] acknowledge that several shipments from 1985 have gone missing. Please call 1.800.561.1985 with any info.” This cryptic message appeared on Nike’s Twitter this past June, teasing stranger things to come. They didn’t disappoint.
The sportswear brand teamed up with Netflix for the Nike x “Stranger Things” capsule collection, bringing the series’ signature retro look from the screen to stores in the form of sweatsuits, sneakers, and accessories.
The Hawkins High Pack, released on June 27, hypes school spirit with green and orange color schemes and the Hawkins tiger mascot on gear you would have worn in phys-ed class back in the ‘80s.
The OG Pack, released July 1, puts patriotism at the forefront with classic kicks in red, white, and blue with a year marker on the heel and a special firework display sock liner to celebrate Independence Day 1985.
Season three of the popular series returned on July 4th, with the holiday serving as a major plot point in the first episode. This time around, we find favorite characters like Eleven, Mike, Dustin, Lucas, Will, and Max on the cusp of high school, and there are just as many secret missions, subterranean bunkers, and supernatural monsters involved as ever before.
1985 was a banner year for Nike, too — hence the connection. The brand cites high-energy events like the previous year’s Olympic Games in Los Angeles and the rising profile of professional basketball, as well as the beginnings of its now-classic performance running offering, the Nike Air series. Nike notes that some of its most popular styles of the 80s include the Dunk, Air Force 1, and Nike Tech Challenge II.
“In the summer of 1985, several transport vehicles departed from Nike HQ in Beaverton, Oregon, carrying special product shipments headed to multiple locations across the US. Unfortunately, a few of the shipments never made it to their destination. These vehicles all had one thing in common…they were last seen on surveillance footage passing through Hawkins, Indiana. Nike, concerned and confused, never mentioned these missing shipments to anyone for fear that something supernatural was at play.”
“Thirty-four years later, signs of the missing shipments are popping up, piece by piece, and it’s clear that there is something deeper, darker, and more evil brewing. Fortunately, some of the missing shipments have been located. Their contents are what we now know as iconic Nike styles: the Cortez, Blazer, and Air Tailwind ‘79. Introduced alongside matching apparel, these classic Nike silhouettes arrive in classic color combos with Stranger Things logos. Each shoe comes complete with original-inspired Nike packaging and special edition pins.”
Prices on the Hawkins High Pack range from $65-$120, while the Blazer, Tailwind, and Cortez shoe models in the OG Pack are available for $120. Alas, if you slept on this drop and you still want to nab a piece or two, you’ll have to get on it fast. While many caps, sweatshirts, and other items are still available, others are already sold out. Nike has hinted that it might restock some styles, though, and stranger things have certainly happened!
