Image via Complex Original
The Kobe Prelude pack has already made its way out to the sneaker masses, but Sunday night, Nike and Kobe Bryant stopped by the Nike Vault in Los Angeles to meet the artists that created pieces inspired by the collection. Ranging from sculpture to canvas art, the art pieces were as varied as the artists themselves.
During the event, Kobe took some time to speak to a select group of high school students, media, and fans about the history, present, and future of his sneaker line. Considering this is Kobe's ninth shoe with Nike, Kobe is fully immersed in the design process. From the technology choices to something as complex as the storytelling around the shoe, Kobe knows it. He not only knows it, he knows it well.
Several times during the event, Kobe spoke of certain painters and how colorways were based upon them. He spoke of the transition of going from high-top to low-top to back to high-top, and how it was not just a random decision, but a calculated choice that works for him as an athlete.
For the students in attendance, they probably received the best feedback when Kobe took the time to address them directly—almost as if he forgot the rest of the crowd was there. He stressed how important it is to work hard and reach for your goals. How sometimes, actually more often that not, you are going to have to sacrifice things if you want to be great.
As expected, the students tuned in, hanging off of every world that Kobe spoke. Several bowed their heads in agreement. A few others sat back in their chairs, taking in what they always knew on the inside, but needed to hear from someone else.
The difference between thinking and doing can sometime be a large gap. Kobe managed to close that gap for a few students yesterday. In addition to the talk, Kobe also shed some light on a few thing happening with the Kobe 9 and what we can expect in the future. Rest assured, there are some good things happening with the shoe. Here are 10 Things We Learned From Kobe at the Artist Prelude Event.
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There is a Kobe 9 Low on the way.
The Kobe signature line has a long legacy as a low-cut sneaker. With the Nike Kobe 9 Elite, Kobe abandoned what many believed helped to make his line popular and went with a high-top sneaker. Going back to his thoughts on design and advertising, Kobe knows that people like the low-cut sneaker and revealed that a low top version of the Kobe 9 was on the way. No specifics were given regarding the design or technology, but expect it to continue the story of the Kobe 9 Elite.
Kobe is looking at advertising as his next career.
If you speak to Kobe about advertising, you would think he was already doing it. In reference to his signature sneaker line, Kobe speaks about it in a way that claims ownership. From storytelling to the way a shoe feels, Kobe is involved. When asked about a career after basketball, Kobe expressed a strong interest in the world of advertising, saying, "I've been doing it the last 10 years with Nike."
Kobe is (borderline) psychotic.
Before you go jumping to conclusions about what this means, take a moment to read: When describing his pursuit to be the best, Kobe spoke of artists, athletes, and businessmen that had such a reckless abandon for being successful that it became a part of them. The attention to detail, the push to be better, the practice, the art of creating, are all things these people, including himself, have in common. According to Kobe, many of them pursued it with such passion, such heart, that it's on the verge of being psychotic.
Kobe is inspired by everything, Michael Jackson included.
The Kobe 9 has strong roots in the world of art, but Kobe hasn't limited his muses to that world. "I get inspiration from everything," Kobe said, "I am always looking at great things and trying to find the common denominator between them all." And when he says everything, he means it. Kobe even spoke about a Kobe 9 Elite colorway inspired by the King of Pop, Michael Jackson.
Kobe likes it when other players wear his shoes.
How deeply Kobe is involved with the design of his signature shoe is out of the ordinary for an athlete. However, knowing his involvement, it speaks highly of his response when asked about other players wearing his shoe. He sees it as a compliment. Not to him as a player, but as a designer. "I feel like if players in the league are wearing my shoe, I am doing something right," Kobe said. "If they are not wearing my shoes, then I know we are not doing something right."
Kobe would have gone to North Carolina if he went to college.
Kobe is always on the offensive. His passion for the game comes from his aggressiveness on the court. When asked about which college he would have attended, Kobe spoke of the University of North Carolina. Why? Because of Vince Carter. He said, "I would have loved to go after Vince every day in practice." Seems like that would have been a good as a reason as any to go to UNC. [Then again, he's also said he would have definitely gone to Duke. Pick one, Kobe! —Ed.]
Kobe has no idea when he is coming back to play.
When a player has as much passion as Kobe Bryant, it is hard to watch him sit on the sidelines. There is no question that Kobe loves the game of basketball, and you could almost hear the pain in his voice when he spoke about not being able to play. Currently, he is still riding the bike to stay in shape, but hasn't been able to train the way he normally would.
Kobe shares sneaker ideas with KD and LeBron.
Most would expect that the competition seen on the court between Kobe, LeBron, and Kevin Durant to extend beyond the hardwood to Nike's Innovation Kitchen. Nothing could be further than the truth. Kobe acknowledges that he is definitely more interested in the design and advertising side of the Nike family, but has no issue with sharing his "crazy" ideas with his Nike signature brethren.
There's no Flyknit on the Kobe 9 GS.
While the men's sizes of the Kobe 9 Elite are the first Flyknit basketball sneaker, those that rock a GS size do not get so lucky. However, instead of opting for a synthetic material or nubuck, Nike is instead utilizing the Engineered Mesh that popped up on the Kobe 8 for the GS size of the Kobe 9.
There is a Kobe 9 Elite Inspired by the Air Jordan III on the way.
Kobe spoke a lot about his muses and what inspires him. Adding to career-defining moments expressed in the Prelude Pack, Kobe spoke about the Kobe 9 Elite and how the shoe was an homage to people that drove him to be better. When asked about some upcoming colorways on the Kobe 9 Elite, Kobe spoke specifically about a Kobe 9 Elite inspired by his favorite Air Jordan model, the Jordan III.
