Kobe Bryant’s widow, Vanessa Bryant, designed a pair of new Nike shoes called the Protro 8, the designs for which the shoe company first released on Thursday.
The sneakers are scheduled to go on sale on August 23, marking what would have been the late Los Angeles Laker star’s 45th birthday.
Vanessa posted an Instagram clip of a silhouette of the designer sneakers on Wednesday.
She captioned the clip: ‘Kobe 8 “Halo” 8.23.23. This will be one of many Kobe 8 “Halo” styles coming soon.
Vanessa, who is mother to daughters Natalia, 20, the late Gigi, 13, Bianka, six, and Capri, four, with the late NBA icon, ‘envisioned and created the Halo footwear concept and pitched it as a way to honor Kobe’s birthday every year. ,’ he shoe company saying.
Details: Kobe Bryant’s widow, Vanessa Bryant, designed a pair of new Nike shoes called the Protro 8, designs for which the shoe company first released on Thursday. Pictured in December 2019 in Los Angeles, just a month before Kobe’s death in a helicopter crash.
The sneakers are scheduled to go on sale on August 23, marking what would have been the late Los Angeles Laker star’s 45th birthday.
The shoes are a modern take on the eighth shoe Kobe released under his brand in 2012; and the second release from the late legend’s line since the release of the Kobe 4 Protro Mamabacitas in May.
The company said its Halo concept “will be an annual release that will honor and celebrate this special date” of Kobe’s birthday.
Nike said that for the latest model, “designers replaced the Lunarlon midsole with Nike React foam, allowing for better comfort and responsiveness and creating an overall more durable design.”
“Also updated are the herringbone traction pattern and Swoosh embroidery on the upper and Mamba logo on the tongue.”
After the late Los Angeles Laker star’s contract with Nike expired in April 2021, Vanessa took to Instagram in March 2022 to announce that she had reached an agreement with Nike on a new deal that will see the company produce shoes. in honor of the late Kobe and Gigi Bryant.
“We are excited to announce that our partnership with Nike will continue!” Vanessa said in a post on the social media website. “I am very proud that my husband’s shoes continue to be the most worn by players on the NBA courts and that his shoes continue to be in such high demand by his fans around the world.
“With this new partnership, fans will soon be able to have access to Kobe and Gigi Nike merchandise for years to come and Nike will donate 100% of annual net profits from Gianna’s shoes to our Mamba and Mambacita Sports Foundation (M&MSF). “.
Vanessa said she was “grateful” to collaborate with Nike in establishing “a youth basketball center in Southern California that will share the Mamba Mentality with young athletes for generations to come.”
Vanessa on Wednesday posted an Instagram clip of a silhouette of the designer sneakers.
Vanessa “envisioned and created the Halo shoe concept and launched it as a way to honor Kobe’s birthday each year,” the shoe company said.
The company said its Halo concept “will be an annual release that will honor and celebrate this special date” of Kobe’s birthday.
Nike said that for the latest model, “designers replaced the Lunarlon midsole with Nike React foam, allowing for better comfort and responsiveness and creating an overall more durable design.”
Nike said that “the herringbone traction pattern and embroidery of the Swoosh on the upper and the Mamba logo on the tongue have also been updated.”
Vanessa in March 2022 took to Instagram to announce that she had reached an agreement with Nike on a new deal that will see the company produce shoes honoring the late Kobe and Gigi Bryant.
Kobe and Gigi were seen playing an NBA game in Brooklyn in December 2019.
Vanessa called the commercial effort “an inspiring moment” for fans of Kobe and Gigi, saying she’s “so grateful” for all of them.
Vanessa had publicly commented on social media about the shortage of Kobe Bryant’s signature shoes in the wake of his tragic passing.
She said in December 2020 that she had “contacted” the company after learning that “fans (were) having a hard time” getting the Kobe 6 Grinch shoes; and she was upset in June 2021 after the company produced a Gigi MAMBACITA shoe without her approval.
The family continues to hold out after Kobe, 41, and Gigi, 13, were killed with seven others in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California on January 26, 2020. Pilot Ara Zobayan was also killed in the crash. , 50, Payton Chester, 13, Sarah Chester, 46, Alyssa Altobelli, 14, Keri Altobelli, 46, John Altobelli, 56, and Christina Mauser, 38.
