Boston-based Concepts—founded in 1996—first began really appealing to sneakerheads’ sense of humor when it introduced its inaugural Nike SB Dunk, the Lobster, in 2008. Since then, the retailer has built a bit of a reputation for its Dunk releases, employing audacious packaging and leaning on tongue-in-cheek designs—including three ugly Christmas sweater shoes—to sell some not-so-serious footwear.
With Thanksgiving weeks away, Concepts has unveiled its latest Nike SB Dunk. Inspired by the infamous turducken—a dish consisting of a chicken stuffed into a duck stuffed into a turkey—the Concepts x Nike SB Dunk High TurDUNKen launches Nov. 14 at the retailer’s Boston and New York stores and at cncpts.com. Shoes will release at select skate retailers on Nov. 20 and on the SNKRS app on Nov. 21.
“We’ve definitely never taken ourselves too seriously,” Concepts creative director Deon Point said in a statement. “We’re well-versed in sport. We come from luxury. The thing with us that always gets overlooked is our sense of humor. We love to have fun.”
To emulate the classic dish, the product features Nike Dri-FIT chicken feet socks, a duck-inspired Dunk and turkey wrapping paper. The shoe comes in an oven-inspired box with a family-dinner-themed turkey leg Nerf vortex football.
With down-like quarter material and a laser-cut quarter replicating feathers, the design of the Dunk High (or, as the tongue label reads, “Duck High”) draws from the coloring of the mallard duck. A custom toile print decorates the collar lining and sockliner, and this is reprised within an associated apparel collection comprising a fleece bomber jacket, T-shirt and beanie.
Concepts’ turducken Nike SB Dunk isn’t the only food-themed footwear release this fall. This October saw the release of several candy-inspired shoes from major brands.
Ugg’s unveiled a new partnership with The Hershey Company and Foot Locker brands last week, dropping a capsule of sweets-inspired kids’ footwear on Halloween. Inspired by Hershey’s Kisses, Reese’s, and Twizzlers, the collection included new versions of the kids’ classic short boot, the kids’ Neumel lace-up boot and the infants’ Bixbee bootie.
Earlier last month, sports-focused Champion unveiled a capsule of M&Ms-inspired slides and fuzzy slippers. Available in black, grey, red, blue, orange and yellow, the co-branded products will be available for purchase at Foot Locker Nov. 12.