crooked tongues magazine News Features

The Nike Zoom Kobe VI is one of our favourite new shoes, so we had to include this makeup in the News. A basketball shoe in football colours makes for an unlikely mix of national sports, but in the case of Eric Avar’s recent lower cut Kobe creations it makes a lot of sense. Why? Because Mr. Bryant really, really likes football — so much so that his signature shoe is based on a football boot cut. He’s not a new-jack when it comes to the game either. Having spent plenty of his childhood in Italy, Kobe’s played plenty and we’ve heard him cited as a fan of both A.C. Milan and FC Barcelona. We’re not sure, but maybe it’s his admiration for Frank Rijkaard and Ronaldinho that links the two.

Whatever the reason, the Barcelona makes for a fantastic European colourway of the shoe that brings out the best in the sixth sneaker in this series. These were twinned with the fantastic (now sold out) mango makeup that was based on the 2009/10 Barcelona away shirt — we’d quite like to see a teal version based on the current away effort too, Lakers via Barca delivers with a stronger look than the similarly themed Hyperdunk a few years back, as those stripes on the lining and the inner tongue badge stay in the sneaker and let the blue, yellow and red do all the talking, with the swoosh and heel counter smartly highlighted in a way that makes this reptilian design look remarkably tasteful.

Between this themed makeup and the weekend’s Koston One mashup, this model’s getting some play beyond its usual hardwood environment, making the most of the versatility its increasingly influential low-cut look provides. If you’re lucky, you’ll be able to grab one of the last remaining pairs of these at London’s House of Hoops. We’re hoping to see more Kobe releases of this caliber on the build up to part VII.