The Cryoshot Striker 1976 x Nigeria x Slawn transforms Nike’s earliest football shoe through a canvas upper covered in the artist’s signature illustrations. The release connects Slawn’s raw graphic style with Nigerian football culture and the history of Nike footwear.
SNEAKERS
For the Cryoshot rollout, Slawn selected the Striker 1976 and recreated its upper in canvas. The material gives the shoe a direct surface for his signature illustrations, which cover the design with the loose, unfiltered drawing style associated with the Nigerian artist. Minimal overlays preserve the original form and leave the artwork as the main visual feature.
The release starts with a shoe created for football and adapts it for daily use. Nike developed the Cryoshot series by pulling classic football footwear from its archive and altering the sole construction. The original studs remain visible inside a transparent outsole, keeping the profile connected to the pitch.
This clear outsole defines the Cryoshot Striker 1976. It surrounds the studs without hiding them, allowing the shoe to retain a key feature of its original performance design. The transparent material also places greater emphasis on the shape beneath the foot, turning the stud pattern into part of the sneaker’s appearance.
Canvas changes the character of the archival model. The fabric offers a lighter, more informal finish than the materials commonly associated with football shoes, while its surface supports Slawn’s drawings across the upper.
The sneaker belongs to the wider Nigeria x Slawn federation collection, which takes its imagery from the Super Eagles wings. Slawn interprets the symbol through his hand-drawn style, bringing the same graphic approach to clothing created for players and supporters. Co-branded patches, embroidery, and large-scale graphics carry Nigerian identity throughout the broader release.
The Nigeria x Slawn X2 collection will launch through Slawn and federation retailers on June 11. Dover Street Market will release the collection on June 13, followed by SNKRS and selected Nike partner retailers on June 16.
