Getty Image / Frank Micelotta
Nike announced they are releasing a new Kobe 8 ‘Protro Halo’ colorway that was designed by Kobe Bryant’s widow, Vanessa Bryant, and it is being released in honor of what would’ve been Kobe’s 45th birthday.
In a press release, Nike announced the new Vanessa Bryant-designed Nike Kobe 8 will debut as a Protro Halo colorway. Protro is a word coined by Kobe Bryant himself as a play on the words performance and retro.
This release will debut on August 23rd, which would have been Kobe Bryant’s 45th birthday. Nike also announced the Halo concept designed by Vanessa Bryant will now be an annual release to commemorate her late husband’s birthday.
Nike
In the press release, Nike announced:
“Partnering with Nike Basketball, Vanessa Bryant imagined and created the Halo shoe concept and launch as a way to honor Kobe’s birthday each year. The Halo concept will be an annual release that will honor and celebrate this special date.
Like the existing Protros, the Kobe 8 Protro has the same iconic look but features new updates in design and performance innovation. One of the more noticeable design updates include the embroidered Swoosh on the upper, paired with an embroidered Mamba logo on the tongue. In a key innovation update, designers replaced the Lunarlon midsole with Nike React foam, for comfort and responsiveness and to help create a durable design overall. The team also updated the herringbone traction pattern for strong grip and performance.”
Nike
Nike
The Protro Halo colorway will be released on August 23rd via the SNKRS app. But Nike is also holding a 2-day elite two-day youth basketball tournament outside of the Crypto.com Arena in LA, home of the Lakers, with the championship game taking place on the 23rd to commemorate Kobe’s birthday.
Vanessa shared a video of the sneaker announcement on her Instagram.
According to the NYPost, Vanessa’s design is a play on the first Kobe 8 design, a sneaker that was released back in 2012.