Nike’s collaboration with Yuko Shimizu’s Hello Kitty may be one of the most anticipated trainers of the year, as sneakerheads and fans of the well-known Japanese character have been waiting since rumours emerged of the shoe in 2004, initially created to celebrate Sanrio’s 30th anniversary. Only a handful of the original shoe designs were made and exclusively supplied to friends and family.

Fast forward 18 years and the Kawaii cat can be seen in a repeated print on the ‘00s Presto silhouette, originally designed with the intention of creating a shoe built for running, with the comfort of a house slipper. It was one of the first trainers to have a t-shirt-influenced universal size run, ranging from Small to Large due to the stretchy nature of its cutting-edge upper.

The Presto was originally marketed using a range of cartoon characters that represented each colourway of the shoe, with an animated short for each of the 13 colours including “Rabid Panda”, “Shady Milkman” and “Catfight Shiner”. This makes the Presto the perfect fit for an animated character with a rich legacy.

The Nike Air Presto X Hello Kitty features a bold University Blue neoprene-style synthetic upper with an allover print of the iconic character, a rubberised bow motif to the tongue and twin embroidered swooshes above the toebox. White side cages house the lace-up fastening, with a heel overlay sporting a debossed Hello Kitty face complete with 3D ears and bow. A faux-velvet lines the inner ankle cuff and heel, with a breathable mesh foot lining for all-day comfort. The Presto sits atop a foam midsole with arch support and a Duralon rubber outsole.

The Nike Air Presto x Hello Kitty releases on 23/07/2022 alongside a t-shirt in blue or white and a soft and cosy hoodie and sweatpant two-piece. Register now for a chance to buy, as this collection is set to sell out fast.

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