Accessories

In a particularly canny move, Nike has decided to court the 1.3 billion people of China with a forthcoming 'Year of the Dragon' collection for 2012.

By Emmet Purcell

To commemorate the year of the dragon (let's face it, that's a lot more marketable than the year of the monkey), Nike is introducing a four-shoe collection that appears to have more thought than you would imagine behind it.

For example, the above Nike Kobe VII System Supreme in the main story image features an animated dragon pattern and focuses on Kobe's Italian roots by including the country's tricolour. Also, the Nike Zoom KD IVs featured directly above will be worn by Oklahoma City star Kevin Durant, who was born in the year of the dragon.

Finally, two more designs include the below retouched Air Jordan 2012, which has significance for... well, believe 9 is a powerful word in Chinese (emperors wear robe with 9 dragons and a 9-dragon wall was exclusive for the royal family) and because 9 is a lucky number Michael Jordan. Granted, it's a pretty tenuous link but Air Jordans are always huge sellers, so you can hardly blame Nike.

Lastly we have the rather boring black Air Force 1 Low Supreme, which includes a dragon design on a black silk texture and a cloud-and-bat pattern, which in Chinese culture implies good fortune. So yes, it's a clever cash-grab, but it's a very smart cash-grab too.

[via Sneaker Freaker]